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