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One young resident made a special delivery recently to the town’s food pantry.

After classes concluded for the school year on June 16, Jack Liberta and his parents went to FAITH Food Pantry. There, Jack unveiled a collection of nonperishables for the pantry, representing his birthday wish.

According to his mother Laura, the now-6-year-old had been putting some thought into what to request for his recent birthday.

“We talked about different things, and he decided to do this,” she said. “‘I want people to eat,’ he said.”

Jack agreed, saying a few minutes later that he decided this year that “instead of getting presents, I wanted to help people.”

At least nine large bags of donations were ready to be unloaded Thursday afternoon. Some were still in the gift bags Jack had received them in. Others were in paper bags with handles, while others arrived in reusable bags.

Sue and Jim Shpunt and Sue and Steve Small welcomed the Libertas. Young Jack was given a hand in moving the donations from the back of his mom’s car into a shopping cart, which was then moved inside the building at 46 Church Hill Road.

Jack was then invited to tour the pantry, which he and his parents happily accepted. Sue Shpunt walked with the family through the building, while the others began unloading and sorting the recent gifts that will soon find their way into the homes of some of Newtown’s less fortunate.

Volunteers with FAITH Food Pantry will be outside the pantry this weekend, accepting donations during the next monthly Drive-Thru Food Drive.

All are invited to visit the pantry, directly behind St Rose of Lima Church at 46 Church Hill Road, between 10 am and noon Saturday, July 2.

While all nonperishables, toiletries, cleaning supplies, cat and dog foods, and financial donations are always welcomed, the volunteers often have a few specific requests as well. This month that list includes baked beans, chili, chips, cookies, hamburger and/or hot dog rolls, iced tea/lemonade mixes, ketchup, mayonnaise, pickles, relish, salad dressing, ingredients for smores, and sunscreen.

For additional information contact the pantry at 203-837-0816 or visit newtownfoodpantry.org.

Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.

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