Chase family donates a new Mobile Foodshare truck

Foodshare recently was able to replace our older Mobile Foodshare truck with a new, refrigerated version which will better allow us to distribute fresh fruits and vegetables to people in need throughout greater Hartford. The truck was made possible through the generous support of the David and Rhoda Chase Family Foundation, the Arnold and Sandra Chase Family Foundation, and the Cheryl Chase and Stuart Bear Family Foundation.


For more than 20 years, the Chase Family has been a vigorous and generous supporter of Foodshare. Arnold Chase served on the Foodshare Board of Directors in the 1990s, and Cheryl Chase has served as a Director and now an honorary Director for 15 years.

The Chase family support extends beyond their involvement at the Board level, though.  They have hosted the Chase Challenge at our annual Walk Against Hunger and this is the second Mobile Foodshare truck they have funded for Foodshare. 

Unfortunately, due to a family emergency, the Chase's were not able to be with us at Foodshare's Grand Re-opening last week where we unveiled and dedicated the truck. However, Cheryl Chase and her brother, Arnold Chase, came by Foodshare yesterday for a tour of our expanded facilities and to see the new truck that their generosity had made possible.

 



Pictured:  Arnold Chase, Cheryl Chase, Gloria McAdam, and
Foodshare drivers John Zullo and Gary Sherwood

Since Cheryl had planned to be with us at the Grand Re-Opening, she had prepared remarks, which included, in part:  “It is our honor to support this campaign and the expanding work of Foodshare. Foodshare over the years has shown itself to be a remarkably responsible organization. Its plans are carefully laid and diligently followed through. Moreover, you make a demonstrable difference in addressing the problem. We consider a donation to Foodshare an investment in our community. It’s an investment that has demonstrated impact and large returns. And it an investment that we are happy to make. The Mobile Foodshare program is a case in point. Foodshare saw a problem—the nature of the food bank system was too slow to allow for much produce or the nutrition it offered—and came up with a solution: convert a beverage truck to carry fruits and vegetables quickly and directly from market to neighborhood distribution points.”

And while they were touring the operation and seeing the truck yesterday, Arnold told us that while he, his sister, and his parents sometimes have discussions and even disagreements about which charities they should support, that there is never any question or any disagreement when it comes to supporting Foodshare.

We can’t thank the Chase Family nearly enough for all of their support over the years!

And we did have to let you know that Cheryl just couldn’t resist hopping in the driver’s seat of that new truck for a few minutes!