Collecting food, cash for Thanksgiving

NORTH HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- With the victims from Sandy adding to the expected number of those in need, demand for donations to make sure there's Thanksgiving for all has never been greater.

Today the Connecticut Food Bank will be collecting non-perishable foods, frozen turkeys and money at the Big Y in North Haven.

Last year the Food Bank had enough to provide more than 800,000 meals during the holiday season.

The Big Y in North Haven is on Washington Ave. north of Exit 12 off I-91. David Fisch and the folks from Radio 104 will also be on hand to accept your donations.

"Day 1 went great. We had 48 turkeys on the first day alone," Fisch said.

And News 8 collected dozens more at Saturday's "Fill the Bowl" food drive at the Yale Bowl. Last year the food bank provided 800,000 holiday meals for hungry people in Connecticut.

"The demand is still there. It is still the same, if not higher," Jennifer Thomas of the Connecticut Food Bank said.

And driving demand even higher is Hurricane Sandy. The food bank already used up resources on storm relief.

"So Thanksgiving becomes even more of an effort so we can continue to recover from the hurricane as well as, people are still going to be hungry at Thanksgiving so we need to provide them food," Thomas said.

It's an amazing feat, but the food bank can feed 24 people with just $10.

"That's a huge number. If you can change 24 people's holiday for $10, that's a no brainer, so come out and see us," Fisch said.

Other food drives for Connecticut Food Bank:

• Bank of America, Tuesday, November 13, 157 Church Street, New Haven
• Star 99.9 Food for Friends. November 15, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Stop & Shop in Milford, Shelton and Westport
• KC 101 Stuff-a-Bus. November 16 & 17. Friday, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hamden Plaza, 2100 Dixwell Avenue
• WATR Big Heart at Big Y. November 16 & 17, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Big Y in Naugatuck
• The CT Food Bank and NEWS 8 have launched a Hurricane Sandy Virtual Food Drive .