Low food supply for Thanksgiving

MONTVILLE, Conn. (WTNH) -- Southeastern Connecticut wants to help feed families this Thanksgiving but with its current supply, it just can't. They're in dire need of donations after Superstorm Sandy victims cleared the shelves.

The community is coming together in a time of need and a time to give thanks. Volunteers at the senior center and donations from many in Montville are helping the food pantry fill these empty shelves and fill Thanksgiving baskets.

"We separate everything into...so everybody gets some of everything," Peggy Ryan of Montville said.

Those baskets are harder to fill this year.

"We had to use all of our regular food from our food bank plus tap into all of our storage items," Kathy Doherty-Peck, the Director of Senior and Social Services.

Montville, like many towns took a double hit from Sandy which depleted food pantries and delayed food drives, but she is no match for folks like Peggy Ryan or Tri Town Foods.    

"Everybody, everybody... you know the schools and different business in the town they all collect," Ryan said.

"And you guys are doing a lot of work here," said News 8's Tina Detelj.

"Yeah for old ladies," Ryan said laughing, "it's a lot of work."

Don't be fooled by all the food, because if you look at individual items like peanut butter, they put one jar in each basket and they'll be putting together between 300 and 350 baskets, so they don't have nearly that many.

Detelj asked Doherty-Peck if they do this for Christmas as well.

"We do. I'm really trying not to panic so I'm taking one holiday at a time," Doherty-Peck said.

Cautious confidence as the need continues to rise.

"We will make sure one way or another that we will have enough turkeys for everybody," Doherty-Peck said.

"But you can use some help," Detelj asked.

"Absolutely," Doherty-Peck said.