While many organizations scale back over the holiday season businesswise, one statewide non-profit is ramping up to fight food insecurity in the new year ahead! Specifically, Gifts of Love, a charity that provides food, clothing and household items to Connecticut individuals and families facing a financial crisis, recently named Jaime Hegarty of Simsbury to its Board of Directors.
“Jaime has volunteered with Gifts of Love for many years and we are thrilled that she has committed to a new level of involvement by serving on our Board,” said Lisa Gray, executive director of Gifts of Love. “We know that her vast expertise in project management and strategy implementation will help us make solid decisions as an organization going forward.”
Hegarty has made a career within the financial services and insurance industries, currently employed as a Sales Support Director for Voya Financial.
Gifts of Love currently services 41 towns across Connecticut by offering two fully-stocked food pantries consisting of non-perishable food items, meats, dairy products, frozen items, and fresh produce, as well as paper goods, cleaning, and personal hygiene items; a housewares and small appliances pantry; and a clothing boutique, where clients can come and shop once a month. The organization has two locations- in Avon and in Hartford- to make it easy for those in need to access necessary goods and services. It is also on the front lines of fighting childhood hunger with its Weekend Food Backpack Program, during which it distributes backpacks stuffed with easy-to-prepare meals and drinks to more than 300 students each week who are receiving free or reduced-cost lunches throughout the school year.
Gifts of Love has helped meet the basic needs of individuals and families in the Greater Hartford area experiencing short-term financial crises so they can return to self-sufficiency and regain independence. The non-profit provides food, clothing and household necessities, as well as short-term programs and education. Most importantly, Gifts of Love provides a sense of hope to those in search of a better future. For more information visit www.giftsoflove.org.
PHOTO: Gifts of Love has recently named Simsbury resident Jaime Hegarty to its Board of Directors as it continues its mission to combat food insecurity across Connecticut. Photo Credit: Gifts of Love