Purple pantry boxes (PPB) critical facts

Saturday, March 15th: Milford's St. Patrick's Day Parade - Come see the PPB team walk the parade and bring your non-perishable donations.

Saturday & Sunday, March 15-16 & 22-23rd: Milford Little League is hosting a 4-day food drive during the spring season evaluations. 

Friday, March 28th: Purple Pantry Boxes Fifth Birthday Party! There is a Food Drive, Raffle, Food Truck, Incredible Beers from NEBCO and Even Better Friends. This is hosted at New England Brewing Company in Woodbridge.

Monday, May 5th: The 3rd Annual Purple Pantry Boxes Golf Tournament is on Cinco de Mayo this year, don't miss out on . You don't have to know how to golf to support a great cause and have an incredible Monday on a golf course. Learn more and register at www.MilfordCharityGolf.com

Saturday, August 16th: The Milford Oyster Festival is always a great time! Find the PPB team there and learn about the impacts we are having on Milford friends in need.

Tuesday November 25th: Giving Tuesday. Please keep PPB in your minds as this is a great day to support your local Milford neighbors in need.

Thursday, November 27th: Join us for the www.MilfordTurkeyTrot.com This event has raised over $111k for charity in just the first four years. Joins us for year 5. Live music from the Rum Runners, free beer from NEBCO, Tribus, Two Roads, Viva, Athletic and more. You can choose between a beautiful 1/2/3+ mile run/walk event on Thanksgiving morning. Run Now and Gobble Later. 

 January 19th: Food Drive at Adams Hometown Markets, 10am-3pm, 1391 New Haven Ave, Milford CT

February 9th: Food Drive at Adams Hometown Markets, 10am-3pm, 1391 New Haven Ave, Milford CT

March 8th: Food Drive at Adams Hometown Markets, 10am-3pm, 1391 New Haven Ave, Milford CT

 April 12th: Food Drive at Adams Hometown Markets, 10am-3pm, 1391 New Haven Ave, Milford CT

 May 18th: Food Drive at Adams Hometown Markets, 10am-3pm, 1391 New Haven Ave, Milford CT

June 8th: Food Drive at Adams Hometown Markets, 10am-3pm, 1391 New Haven Ave, Milford CT

 August 24th: Food Drive at Adams Hometown Markets, 10am-3pm, 1391 New Haven Ave, Milford CT

 September 13th: Food Drive at Adams Hometown Markets, 10am-3pm, 1391 New Haven Ave, Milford CT

 November 23rd: Food Drive at Adams Hometown Markets, 10am-3pm, 1391 New Haven Ave, Milford CT

 We use volunteers in all aspects of our daily existence. While we can use more organizers and pantry fillers, we are also looking for help with social media, networking, grant writing and fundraising. 

Money is appreciated, Time is appreciated, Awareness is appreciated. 

Take what you need, donate what you can.

Reach out to us at PurplePantryBoxes@gmail.com

2025 started with unexpected challenges for Purple Pantry Boxes. On January 1st, we were informed that our 14-month partnership with the Stop & Shop on Villa Ave in Fairfield had come to an end. Corporate Stop & Shop has partnered with Foodshare, meaning that only Foodshare-affiliated organizations can now recover food from their stores. This is a significant loss, not only for us but also for Beth-El and other food support groups in Milford. We had been picking up an average of 30 boxes of food each week, which we shared with other community organizations.

We have submitted an application to become a Foodshare partner and will keep you updated on our status.

Despite this setback, we’ve had some exciting developments:

• On January 2nd, we received a brand-new refrigerator, generously donated by the local Rotary Clubs of Devon, Milford, Orange, and West Haven! This incredible gift will help expand our home delivery efforts.
• A family in Milford has placed a donation bin outside their home with a sign encouraging contributions. We pick up donations from them several times a month—what an amazing way to support our mission!
• Our newest pantry in Ansonia had its official ribbon-cutting ceremony—such an exciting milestone!
• Our monthly food drive at Adam’s Hometown Market was a huge success. We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support from Adam’s and the local community.
• Milford City Lifestyle featured an article about Purple Pantry Boxes, sparking interest from many new volunteers—thank you to everyone who reached out!
• Our home delivery program continues to grow. Between Thanksgiving and the end of December, we delivered 34 holiday food boxes to families in need.
• Last but certainly not least, we hosted our Volunteer Appreciation Party, where over 40 incredible volunteers gathered to celebrate our collective impact. Our organization is entirely volunteer-driven, and we couldn’t fulfill our mission without every single one of you.

Looking Ahead

Food Drive on February 9th at Adam's Hometown Market

5th Anniversary Celebration on March 21st 

2024 was a year of growth, resilience, and community support for Purple Pantry Boxes (PPB). While our organization continued to expand, many of our board members and dedicated volunteers faced personal hardships. Several members experienced the loss of loved ones, and others endured health challenges. Through it all, our team remained steadfast in our mission, supporting one another and the community we serve.

Growth and Expansion

This year, we added a new pantry in Ansonia and saw the YMCA successfully launch its own pantry. Our pantry box builder introduced an updated design for new pantries while also maintaining and repairing existing ones.

With generous grants from the United Way and The Milford Bank, we expanded our services by introducing PM pantry fillings at three locations. Many of our pantries are emptied within hours, and these evening refills ensure that individuals who work during the day still have access to food.

Another major milestone was the launch of home deliveries for families needing more food than the pantries alone could provide. Transportation challenges often prevent families from accessing local food banks—imagine trying to carry 40–60 pounds of groceries on a bus. Through partnerships with Adam’s Hometown Market and Stop & Shop on Villa Ave in Fairfield, we delivered fresh meats, dairy, and produce directly to those in need.

The PPB documentary has been released! Please watch and spread the word so we can all help our neighbors in need.

Holiday Giving

For Thanksgiving and the holiday season, we provided complete holiday meals to families who needed extra support. Thanks to generous donations:

• Adam’s Hometown Market contributed 40 turkeys, with 20 shared with Beth-El.

• Stop & Shop provided perishable side dishes.

• ShopRite and its customers donated nonperishable items.

• Barb Zink from Coldwell Banker Realty donated pumpkin pies.

Together, we delivered 35 full holiday meals, bringing joy to families across the community.

Community and Business Support

Local businesses played a crucial role in supporting PPB this year.

• Trinity Point Wealth provided Walmart gift cards, raffle prizes, and invaluable mentorship.

• New England Brewing Company hosted our 4th birthday party and continues to support our events, including the Milford Turkey Trot and the PPB Charity Golf Classic.

• Many local businesses and organizations hosted food drives, including AT Sangha Yoga, CappuGino’s, Family Shoreline Chiropractic, CT Orthopedics, The Milford Bank, Dollar Tree, and more.

• Others provided financial contributions, raffle prizes, and community support, including Brewport, Barrett Outdoors, Sole to Soul, Connecticut Beardsley Zoo, Café Atlantique, Casey’s Pub, and many more.

School and Civic Engagement

Milford schools actively support PPB year-round. A highlight of 2024 was Harborside Middle School’s cereal box domino challenge, which collected over 600 boxes of cereal for our pantries!

We also partnered with local schools, including Opportunity House, Milestone Behavioral Services, and the Milford Progressive Transitions Program. These students help stock pantries, organize food, and assist with weekly shopping—adding over 20 student volunteers to our dedicated team.

We continued our mission of raising awareness about food insecurity by speaking at churches, schools, and civic organizations. We also worked closely with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

Community Events

PPB was actively involved in Milford’s biggest annual events, including:

• Porchfest

• Juneteenth

• Soup-er Bowl at Mary Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church

• Thanks For Giving Scout Food Drive

• Milford Turkey Trot

• United Way Duck Race

Fundraisers and Milestones

• 5th Birthday Celebration (March): Sponsored by Wendy Barry of Coldwell Banker Realty, featuring 70+ raffle prizes and a successful food drive.

• 2nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament (May): A fantastic event—registration is already open for 2025 at www.MilfordCharityGolf.com!

• Block Party: Featuring live music from Lord of Cello and The Psychedelic Relics.

• Porchfest: A great day of community engagement and food donations.

• Turkey Trot: One of our biggest events, uniting the community on Thanksgiving morning.

• Bingo Night: Hosted at Milford Arts Council and The American Legion, bringing families together for a fun night benefiting PPB.

• Soul to Sole Fundraiser: A fantastic event where all proceeds supported PPB.

A special thank you to the Regional Milford Chamber of Commerce for their continued support in the fight against food insecurity.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we step into 2025, we are ready to grow, serve, and support even more families in need. Please consider donating to help us continue our mission. Together, we can make a difference!

Volunteer and Support Opportunities:

We use volunteers in all aspects of our daily existence. While we can always use more organizers and pantry fillers, we are also looking for help with social media, networking, grant writing and fundraising. If you work at or know an organization that would like to support PPB, we have sponsor partnerships and specific event opportunities to help the community and those in need most. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any ideas of how you can get involved. 

2023 was an amazing year for the Purple Pantry Boxes (PPB).  In fairness, I say every year is great, and they all have been. As we grow, the years get better, and so do we. The PPB team has grown to over 40 volunteers, which helps us with our expansion!  No worries, we always have room for more volunteers 😀, more about this, so keep reading.  As always, it is important to note that we are all volunteers that work as a team. We are all important and appreciated. 

The year began with a bang, as a representative of the PPB, Sue Brown, was invited to be part of a panel in food insecurity, Rep. James Maroney put the panel together as part of his Pints and Policy series. The event was well attended and it was the first opportunity many had to hear her speak. Additionally it was the first time Sue said publicly that Food Is A Right, Not A Privilege!! Days later, Sue was awarded Volunteer of the Year and months later PPB won Best Nonprofit by the Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce. Sue was honored to accept the award on behalf of all the PPB volunteers and the community for all of its support. 

Highlights:

3 PPBs were added in 2023, including East Haven at The Old Stone Church.  Milford added 2 more to the city. 

The Orange, Devon, West Haven and Milford rotaries joined forces and have adopted one of the Milford PPB. 

The Milford Public Schools have gotten involved, many schools have hosted food drives, Calf Penn and Live Oaks began the trend which has spread to many other schools, much thanks to the PTA/PTO involvement. The superintendent of schools office was instrumental in getting a PPB donation bin at Parsons Center. 

Milford Living Magazine did an article on PPB for their summer issue.

Local Business Support:

Local businesses are very important to PPB, they not only donate to our fundraisers, they also hold food drives for us. Hair of the Dog, AT Sangha yoga, Bend Yoga, CappuGino’s, Athleta, Scents of Empowerment, Pops, Adam’s Hometown Market, ShopRite, Stop and Shop, Trinity Point Wealth, Valero Tax, Milford Health and Rehabilitation, Touchdown Nutrition, MoJoe, Metro Star, Sensitive Dentistry, Family Shoreline Chiropractic, CT Orthopaedics, Sole to Soul, New England Brewing Company, Brewport, Connecticut Beardsley Zoo. 

Religious and Civic Organizations:

We speak at any organization that asks!  It is part of our mission to speak openly about food insecurity, 1 in 3 people in Milford struggle with food insecurity. Did you know that?  We have engaged with several churches, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, American Legion, Elks, Orange and Devon Rotary. 

Fundraisers:

March is our birthday, we had our second raffle fundraiser, a yearly event,  sponsored by Wendy Barry, a Coldwell Realtor. 

May we had our first Golf Tournament and is now an annual event. 

This fall we had our first block party!  Music, food and fun!!  This will definitely be a tradition added to 2024

Porchfest has houses that host donation bins. 

Thanksgiving day we are gifted with 2 events; Turkey Trot and Turkey Bowl. Both hold food drives and raise money for us. Are for a touch football player or a runner/walker?  These events have you covered. 

Food Drives, we had over 20 food drives this year and have been gifted with more than 20 others.

Volunteer opportunities:

We use volunteers in all aspects of our daily existence. While we can use more organizers and pantry fillers, we are also looking for help with social media and networking, grant writing and fundraising.