Voters walking into Greenwich Town Hall to cast early ballots are finding something new in the lobby: a food donation bin for Neighbor to Neighbor, the town's only dedicated food pantry.

Republican Registrar of Voters Fred DeCaro III partnered with the nonprofit to place the bin inside Town Hall for the full two-week early voting period, which runs through Nov. 1. DeCaro told Connecticut Public, which first reported the initiative, that 560 people voted on the first day, Monday, Oct. 19, and that he expects between 6,000 and 8,000 total voters over the two weeks.

The bin filled up after day one. DeCaro said he hopes to collect 14 bins' worth of food by the time early voting ends.

It is the first time Greenwich has held a food drive during early voting. DeCaro said he was inspired by a similar effort in Bristol. The town ran a food drive during a 2020 special election, sending postcards to residents, and DeCaro said the results were positive.

The drive comes as Neighbor to Neighbor faces rising demand. K. Brent Hill, the nonprofit's executive director, said the pantry served more than 900 households last year, roughly 2,200 people, and saw a 14% increase in clients.

"So the need is definitely there," Hill told Connecticut Public.

Hill said changes to eligibility for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have added pressure. A report released in October by Connecticut Voices for Children found that Connecticut's poverty rate climbed to 10.6% by 2025, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, according to CT Mirror. The rate had dropped to 7% in 2021 when pandemic-era benefits were in place.

Across Fairfield County, more than 11,000 families are at risk of losing some or all of their SNAP benefits, according to Greenwich Free Press.

The Rev. Michael Murphy of St. Michael's Church, who was among voters interviewed by Connecticut Public at Town Hall, said the cost of gas and food has risen sharply. He noted the strain may be felt more in the broader Greenwich area than immediately around his church.

DeCaro acknowledged that awareness of the donation bin remains a challenge. Several voters Connecticut Public spoke with, including Murphy, did not know about it before arriving. DeCaro said the effort relies on social media to spread the word.

Residents can drop off non-perishable food at Town Hall during early voting hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. most days, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 27 and Oct. 29. Most-needed items include canned fish and meat, peanut butter and jelly, pasta and sauce, coffee and tea, cereal and dried beans.

Upcoming community events:

  • Food drive at Town Hall continues through Sunday, Nov. 1, during early voting hours.
  • Adopt-A-Dog at Town Hall: Saturday, Oct. 31, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with adoptable dogs and on-site applications.
  • General Election: Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Town Hall.