'Stuff An Ambulance' Stocks Monroe Food Pantry's Shelves

Boxes of food filled the back of an ambulance parked in front of Stop & Shop, 470 Monroe Turnpike, Sunday, along with rows of shopping carts as Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service members collected donations from customers during the "Stuff an Ambulance" food drive.

In the midst of the holiday season a growing number of Monroe families are struggling to put food on the table. All donations of non-perishable food and cash will benefit Monroe Food Pantry, 980 Monroe Turnpike. 

"People have been wonderful and generous today," said Brian McCauley, an EMS volunteer and a lieutenant on the Monroe Police Department. "You know a lot of people don't have spare cash."

"Stuff An Ambulance" raised a total of 2,872 pounds of food and $470 in cash donations.

McCauley said the Stop & Shop employees have been very helpful, bringing out boxes for the donations.

By 1 p.m., two car loads of donations had already been driven to the pantry.

EMS volunteers included Kristen and Bob Zawatski, Elaine Organek, Brian Morcone, John Brenna, Maria Lattari, Gail Sawicki, Chrissy Giff, Marcia Fitzgibbons, Sylvia Cullingford, Kathy Short, Deputy Chief Anna Maria LaGuardia (and her children Edward and Victoria), Mary Scianna Lisi, Dustin Zack and Drew McCauley.

To make a donation to the Monroe Food Pantry, contact director Wendy Jolls at 203-452-3770 or foodpantry@monroect.org.

Among items needed are juice, water packed tuna, canned tomatoes, packaged side dishes, canned vegetables, canned beans, canned fruit, cooking oil, salad dressings, condiments, hot or cold cereal, canned soup, pasta, macaroni & cheese, baking mixes, sugar and flour, snack items, canned pasta and coffee or tea. The pantry also accepts fresh produce, grocery items not listed and monetary donations.