FISH Steering Committee

Marsha Royster, Coordinator Louva Calhoun Norman Choiniere Lois Czuba Stan Czuba David Calhoun Connie Pino Karen Donnelly Joy Habib Kay Lund Charles Panico Frank D'Amico David Gesler Richard Graziano

FISH brings emergency supplies of food staples to needy families in the New

Haven area.  On average, we provide service to 350 families per month - 75% of whom are families with children and the elderly.

 

Staffed by volunteers, food is obtained through Food Drives (40 - 50%) or purchased with donated funds at the Connecticut Food Bank (40 - 60%).  Our volunteers take these groceries, and bag them to provide enough food for 21 MEALS and deliver the groceries right to their homes.  Deliveries are usually made five days a week.

FISH is a private, nonprofit and non-denominational social service organization.  The idea of FISH started from a network of neighbors helping neighbors that started in 1961 in Oxford, England.  The fish emblem that they chose is an ancient symbol of concern and caring.  We remain committed to helping our neighbors.

 

FISH came to New Haven in 1968.  It was organized by a group of concerned members of Saint John's Episcopal Church in North Haven, Dunbar United Church in Hamden, and Christian Community Action Agency in New Haven.  These individuals wished to begin a program for serving the needy in the community so FISH became formally incorporated on February 21, 1968, at a meeting held in the storefront of Christian Community Action.

 

In the beginning, volunteers provided hot meals, transportation to medical appointments, baby-sitting and accommodations in emergency situations.  Volunteers offered help 24 hours a day through a telephone answering service.  Since other agencies now provide many of these services, FISH continues its services by providing free bags of non-perishable groceries directly to the homes of people in need of our assistance.

 

Funds come from individual donors, churches, the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven and several small grants.