Help Gifts of Love celebrate the purchase of their new box truck with a "Stuff the Truck" Food Drive on Saturday, February 12, 2011 from 9:00am-5:00pm. Gifts of Love invites the community to stop by area grocery stores and donate food. They are hoping to collect 1,000 bags of food. Cash donations will also be accepted.

"After 21 years and 195,000 miles, it was time for a new truck," said Diana Goode, Executive Director of Gifts of Love. The non-profit helps meet the basic needs of individuals and families experiencing a temporary financial crises, so they can achieve or maintain self-sufficiency. They serve thousands of people across more than thirty Connecticut towns, supplying clients with food, clothing, furniture, and household items.

" The truck is a crucial part of our program because it is used to pick up food and large items from our donors, as well as deliver furniture to our clients," Goode said. Gifts of Love's clients are hardworking people who are struggling to make ends meet. "Our new truck will allow us to continue to assist people across Greater Hartford."

Fitzgeralds Foods in Simbury, ShopRite in Canton and Big Y of Avon are pleased to be partnerning with Gifts of Love's "Stuff the Truck" Food Drive. Volunteers will be at the following locations on February 12th collecting food:

12:00-2:00pm
ShopRite
110 Albany Turnpike
Canton, CT 06019

3:00-5:00pm
Big Y of Avon
255 West Main Street
Avon, CT 06001