Donated items to help local students and families ahead of Thanksgiving.

Hartford, Conn. Families in Hartford who are facing food insecurity will receive free groceries just in time for Thanksgiving thanks to a generous donation from a Sewa Diwali food drive made to The Village for Families & Children’s food pantry at M.D. Fox Elementary School.

Sewa Diwali, a charitable food drive organized by Dharmic communities across the region, delivered several thousand pounds of food and hygiene supplies to the school’s food pantry on Friday so that the items can be distributed to students and families in need. The annual initiative aims to perform selfless acts of service in celebration of the Diwali season. The donations came from members of local organizations Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA and Hoysala Kannada Koota.

The food pantry is operated by The Village, which also runs family resource centers, after school programs, mental health services and other programs at multiple partnering Community Schools across Hartford.

“Thanks to this donation, many families we serve, who face the brunt of heightened costs due to inflation, will have one less thing to worry about as the holiday season arrives,” said Village President & CEO Hector Glynn. “We’re so grateful to these incredibly generous organizations for their support to those we serve.”

The Village serves thousands of families across Greater Hartford each year. During the holidays, the organization counts on community members and local businesses to step up to support The Village’s Holiday Giving Tree, which provides gift cards to families in need so they are able to purchase gifts for their children, put food on the table, and enjoy the holidays together.

To support The Village’s Holiday Giving Tree, visit thevillage.org/holiday.