Town offers free groceries for seniors at greater risk from COVID-19

The following article is an update First Selectman Ken Kellogg issued Wednesday night.

MONROE, CT — As of this afternoon, the State Department of Public Health is reporting total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Monroe at 75 and a total of 6 deaths.

Today I want to highlight a new service through our Community & Social Services Department during the pandemic: Grocery bags are available to seniors age 60 and over.

In partnership with the Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging, the Town of Monroe is providing free bags of groceries to those 60 and over, who are deemed by the CDC to be at greater risk of serious complications from the COVID-19 virus if they leave their home to grocery shop.

Details of this program are as follows:

Each grocery bag provides a one week supply of, among other things, produce, eggs, bread and toilet paper.

There is no financial requirement to be eligible.

Meals-on-Wheels recipients can receive a bag in addition to their meals.

All individuals must pre-register in advance. To sign up, please contact Henna Ali at the Monroe Senior Center, phone number 203-452-2815, Ext. 4. Some basic demographic information is required.

Delivery is available for individuals who meet physical and transportation qualifications.

Supplies are limited and on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Funding for this program is made available by the Federal Government CARES Act, with additional support from Tuft’s Health Plan Foundation, the Griswold Foundation and the Fairfield County Community Foundation.

I want to remind everyone that if you, or anyone you know, needs assistance or to be connected with available resources and services, please call Henna Ali, Director of Community and Social Services, at 203-452-2815, Ext. 4. For information regarding the Monroe Food Pantry, you can call Henna or Kathleen Turner, Food Pantry Coordinator, at 203-452-2817.

While some of these efforts are supported through grants, we also welcome donations, which can be made online at http://www.monroect.org/donate.

I appreciate all the support our community has provided to their neighbors in need. I am extremely grateful to all our staff, and our volunteers who continue to give their time and skills in support of our Food Pantry, Senior Center, and Social Services.

Ken Kellogg,

First Selectman