New London, CT – The Dime Bank Foundation has recently approved a grant to the Gemma E. Moran United Way Labor Food Center on Broad Street in New London. The grant, in the amount of $5,000, will be used towards the purchase of a refrigerated truck. Contributions of food, including refrigerated and frozen items, are donated to the Food Center and require transport in a refrigerated vehicle. The new truck will decrease costs in the long-term by eliminating the need to rent a vehicle and also enable the Food Center to accept more frozen and refrigerated donations. The truck will also allow the food to be kept at its freshest state until drop-off.

The Gemma E. Moran United Way Labor Food Center provides food and household items to nearly 70 free food distribution sites throughout New London County. These sites include shelters, food pantries, after-school programs, day care centers, community meal sites and programs for the elderly. In 2005, the Food Center collected and distributed 1,512,209 pounds of food to people in need in our community.

To find out more about the Gemma E. Moran United Way Labor Food Center, to volunteer, or to learn how to organize a food drive with your group, call 444-8050 or to the Food Center site.