By Pamela McLoughlin, Register Staff
pmcloughlin@nhregister.com

NEW HAVEN — It was 16 years ago that leaders in the Community Soup Kitchen organized a walk to raise money and awareness for feeding the hungry, and would learn Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers also were holding a walk.

So the following year they joined forces instead of competing for walkers and donations. That’s when the aptly named annual Cook and Care Walk-a-thon under the auspices of Interfaith Cooperative Ministries was begun. Since then they’ve bolstered the event to include FISH of Greater New Haven, which provides groceries to those in need and Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen.

“It’s a unique collaborative event,” said David O’Sullivan , coordinator of the Community Soup Kitchen and chairman of this year’s walk to be held Oct. 16 in Edgerton Park. The goal is to raise $60,000 that will be split four ways. But just as important, O’Sullivan said, is educating the public about the organizations and to recruit volunteers.

O’Sullivan said the walk is important to “make people aware there is hunger and poverty right in our neighborhood and they can help.”

He said while demand is up all over because of the economy, there also is more competition for public dollars because state and federal cuts have put many organizations in need of money. Community Soup Kitchen served 67,000 meals last year; DESK served 100,000, he said.

“It’s been more difficult to raise money. When people see the stock market go down, it’s hard to give,” O’Sullivan said.

Connie Pino of Milford, co-president of FISH and her group’s representative in organizing the walk, said aside from being for an important cause, it’s a fun family event. There will be musical entertainment, and Pino, who leads a laugh yoga group in Orange each week, will hold a session before the walk for those who want a tension-relieving chuckle.

“The four organizations do so much in New Haven and the surrounding towns,” Pino said.

Pino said the number of meals provided by her organization is 82,677, a 35 percent increase from last year at this time. She said the organization’s operational budget is in a crisis.

FISH delivers bags of groceries designed to make 21 meals. Lately it has added produce and is looking at creating a recipe book for those who get food. Continued...

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Each year the walk is dedicated to someone. This year it’s Willis Diggs, former longtime director of Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen who died in March.

O’Sullivan said Diggs, known as a “gentle giant” because of his stature, was very dedicated to reaching out to others after he came back from the Vietnam War with a new outlook. Diggs, who loved to fish, worked with youths, on behalf of homeless veterans and for causes to help feed people.

For more details and other information about the walkathon, visit www.cookandcare.org, call 203-624-4594 or email cookcare@gmail.com.

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