Bridgeport food pantry helps after Sandy

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) -- There's always something cooking in the tiny kitchen at the Bridgeport Rescue Mission, but an emergency call from Meals on Wheels in Norwalk has Tex, the guy in charge, working quickly to send out hot pasta dishes.

"We should have enough to feed at least 150 to 200," Tex said.

It was because of Sandy, and a lot of power outages, that meals on wheels was apparently experiencing some difficulty. Small potatoes for this soup kitchen and shelter, which is open every day of the year. Since Sandy, there has been an even bigger demand.

"We have increased the number of hot meals that we're sending out on our mobile kitchen every night," Linda Casey, of the Bridgeport Rescue Mission, said. "Our lines for our meals are much longer and today is the first day for the signup for the Thanksgiving program and so we know there will be a long line outside."

People come here for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Agnes Salley could not hold back the tears after what she went through with Sandy.

"I had to throw all my meats away, all my cheeses, everything away because I didn't have anything and it was like really bad. It was bad," Salley said.

News 8's Jocelyn Maminta asked if Salley if she has gotten her power back. She said, "I got my power back, the night before last. I got the power back but then I didn't have any food."

She came to get food, from the food pantry here.

"We do that everyday from two to four and so we give a bag according to the CT Food bank standards with non-perishable foods. Those numbers just continue to increase anyway and so this is just on top of that," Casey said.

To donate or for more information on the Bridgeport Rescue Mission, visit: www.bridgeportrescuemission.org