10/03/11 Norwalkers Coming To Rescue Food In Greenwich So That The Poor Can Eat

No one likes to talk about food insecurity in wealthy Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Those who will talk about it say that it is a problem with no good reason. It's just a problem of logistics.

Community Plates, an organization that rescues healthy surplus food from Fairfield County restaurants, caterers, grocers, bakers, etc. before it ends up in the dumpster.

Community Plates' 50 plus volunteers began rescuing food in May, and have some 20 donors already, ranging from Match Restaurant in South Norwalk and Fairway Market in Stamford to Trader Joe's, Barcelona, O'Neill's Pub and the SoNo Brewhouse.

They already serve seven agencies in Norwalk -- including Open Door Shelter and Christian Community Action -- Stamford, Darien and Bridgeport, and will be expanding to Greenwich.

Kevin Mullins, a Norwalk resident and former pastor of Northeast Community Church in Norwalk says that the group is rescuing close to 10,000 pounds of desperately needed food each week.

This is part of the local food rescue movement, that says hunger in the Fairfield County really should be solved.

To get another step closer to its goals, Community Plates will hold its first fundraiser Oct. 4 from 6:30-9 p.m. at Stepping Stones Museum in Norwalk.

The gala cocktail party, will include a DJ, passed hors d'oeuvres by Marcia Selden Catering, beer and wine provided by Diageo, and the evening's signature cocktail, a blue kamikaze. Since many volunteers were recruited online, it will be the first time organization leaders and volunteers meet and the first opportunity that Community Plates has had to gather its entire food-rescue community in one place. The event will celebrate the work accomplished since the organization's launch in January of this year.

Funds raised from the gala will primarily cover materials costs, enable further expansion in Fairfield County and finish development of a ground-breaking Web and smart-phone app which Community Plates will unveil in October. The app will streamline the food-rescue process, connecting the three vital streams of donors, volunteers and receiving organizations. The app will be demonstrated for the first time at the gala.

Mullins said going forward he hopes to expand the three prongs that have already made the organization a success -- donors, volunteers and receiving agencies.

Potential Greenwich food donors just need to contact Community Plates and someone will reach out to establish the easiest way to make a donation happen.

Community Plates is also looking for food runners who make everything happen from a transfer standpoint, as well as additional receiving agencies to serve.

Tickets to the gala are $50. For tickets or information about Community Plates, visit www.communityplates.org.