Young volunteers sort food at the Plainville Community Food Pantry on May 8, the day of the U.S. Postal Service letter carriers food collection. As postal trucks arrived at the facility at 54 S. Canal St., the crew unloaded boxes and bags of food that had been donated by residents, carried the items inside and organized them. Susie Woerz, executive director of the food pantry, said about 6,000 pounds of food was collected this weekend and 4,000 pounds of food was collected during the Fill the Truck drive held May 1 and 2.

Kevin Fitzgerald, from Central Connecticut Tire, right, presents a $1,000 check on behalf of the business to Susie Woerz, executive director of the Plainville Community Food Pantry.

Susie Woerz, center, executive director of the Plainville Community Food Pantry, accepts a $2,000 check from Mike Cianchetti, left, and James Kaine, right, of the Water Pollution Control Department. The crew collects cans and bottles the year round resulting in a generous donation to the food pantry.

In front of Gnazzo's Food Center, volunteers known as Disciples of Christ, from Plainville United Methodist Church, sort groceries and household items, which will be packed in a box truck and delivered late Monday to Plainville Community Food Pantry. This is the fourth year the event has been held and the results are a major boost to the shelves, according to Susie Woerz, executive director of the food pantry.

Louis Toffolon Elementary School students recently participated in a community service project led by student support facilitator Ann Bucchi. After trick or treating or attending a Halloween party, the Toffolon children chose candies from their treat bags to donate to the Toffolon Bag ofTreats project. The candy was donated to the American Red Cross chapter in New Britain; the Red Cross will distribute it to families in the Transitional Housing Project, local food pantries, and other programs that provide food for those in shelters. A portion of the candy will also be sent to military personnel serving in Afghanistan. Students and staff at Toffolon collected 101 pounds of candy which amounted to 3,678 pieces for distribution. With some of the candy are, from left to right, Toffolon fifth-graders Craig Cyr, Gabby Benedetto, Lauren Tanner, Grant Sarra, Zhaden Peak and Kyle Smith.

Plainville letter carriers and those across the country collected canned food for soup kitchens and food banks. Helping with a delivery at Plainville Community Food Pantry are, from left to right, Richard Politis, volunteer, Jack Demmons, supervisor of the Plainville Post Office, and Susie Woerz, executive director of the community food pantry. A total of 7,000 pounds of food was collected, according to Woerz.