East Lyme — In an effort to give back and support residents of East Lyme during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the elderly and those unable to go grocery shopping, Niantic Main Street, in partnership with various local businesses, announced Monday it will be sponsoring a drive-thru meal giveaway at St. Agnes Catholic Church on Thursdays for the next three weeks.

Those who need a meal, or who want to deliver a meal to an elderly neighbor or family member living in town, can go to the 22 Haigh Ave. church at 3:30 p.m. Thursday and pick up their meal. Meals will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis and will be handed through car windows or placed in trunks. Approximately 200 to 250 meals will be distributed.

The nonprofit organization promotes East Lyme’s downtown area, as well as its businesses through various events and initatives. The meal drive-thru idea, however, is a way for Niantic's downtown to give back to its community during the pandemic, communications director Rita Rivera said by phone Monday.

“We just thought since right now we are kind of limited to the confines of our houses, this would be a great way for Main Street to get out in the community and help our community,” Rivera said. “We were wanting to do something right now, be out and being active and helping.”

Inspired by an Easter meal drive-thru program held at Filomena’s restaurant for hospital workers last month, the idea was first thought up by East Lyme local and caterer Dean Kraska, who then pitched it last week to Niantic Main Street Vice President Sue Kumro.

“This was the next thing we knew we needed to do,” said Kumro, who owns Mermaid Liquors in downtown Niantic and who often helps fundraise at her shop to support other businesses and efforts, such as the soon-to-be-completed Miracle League Field, in town.

“My businesses is flourishing during this pandemic, so we are trying to give back as much as possible," she said. "I believe in anything that helps people out.”

Working to pull the program together over the past week, Kumro, Kraska and Rivera said they have been finding volunteers, donations and trying to get the word out. Many businesses, which include East Lyme’s Lillian’s Café, Giuliano’s Bakery, Scott’s Meat & Deli, Smith’s Acres, as well as some from New London and Waterford such as Kamp Dog, Birdseye Café and Filomena’s, have donated ingredients to create the meals, Kraska said.

Kraska, who owns catering company All Occasional Catering Services, said he and others will be working in the St. Agnes kitchen to prepare the meals Wednesday before freezing and then distributing Thursday. Kraska said he and those preparing the food all have ServSafe certifications from the Connecticut Restaurant Association, and that all meals will be prepared following criteria from the Ledge Light Health District.

This week’s menu features a pasta and marinara sauce dinner with sweet sausage, meatballs, onions and peppers, as well as a tossed salad and a desert. Kraska and Kumro said they weren’t sure if the program would extend beyond the next three weeks as restaurants will soon be allowed to open.

Donations at the drive-thru will be accepted, Kraska said, and will be used to help finance future meal giveaways May 14 and 21, while any excess donations will be donated back to a charity.

“We are saying, come in in good faith and leave in good faith,” Kraska said. “This is for people in need. We are looking to feed residents of East Lyme and its vets, retired people and senior citizens who can’t get out. ... This is people helping people and feeding our friends.”

m.biekert@theday.com