Groton ― Groton resident Karen DeVirgilio stopped by the Groton Human Services’ annual Thanksgiving distribution on Friday to pick up what she needed to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for her grandchildren.

DeVirgilio, who is working part-time as a waitress while raising her two grandchildren, said the distribution is helping her carry on her family’s longstanding traditions at a time when money is tight.

“I’m glad they have programs like this because a lot of people need help,” she said. “The economy is horrible. I’ve given many years, and this year I have to take.”

About 430 families on Friday received a food box of fixings for their Thanksgiving meal and either a turkey or a voucher to purchase a turkey, said Groton Human Services Director Marge Fondulas.

Volunteers and Human Services staff cheerfully worked to hand out food to residents, who drove up around the building to pick up their food and say thank you.

Many residents, such as Linda Pagan, said the distribution was a particular help this year, with the cost of food rising.

“I live on a very fixed income so this helps,” said Pagan, who is on social security and gets a little assistance from food stamps. “The cost of groceries is ridiculous.”

Pagan said the distribution will help her have a Thanksgiving meal with her children and grandchildren. She said she is doing the best she can to manage with the rising cost of food and knows she’s not the only one in this boat.

“I am blessed. I do have my kids that help me because I know that there are people worse off than I am so I appreciate the Town of Groton with helping us out,” she added.

The annual Thanksgiving distribution is funded through donations. Fondulas said that in past distributions, the department received so many turkeys that it needed to store some of them in an extra freezer at Groton Public Schools, but this year wasn’t even close to that. She said about 25 turkeys were donated this year, a lower number that she attributes to overall rising prices and the higher cost of turkeys in particular. To make up for it, people who did not receive a turkey, were given a $15 coupon.

Fondulas said the department typically orders the food for the boxes of Thanksgiving fixings ― to keep the boxes consistent ― through monetary donations. The department is continuing to receive monetary donations to its discretionary fund and the Groton Food Locker fund so it still can purchase food for people, but the number of food donations the department is receiving overall from people is down.

The number of people receiving the Thanksgiving distribution this year was fairly consistent with years past, but Fondulas said the department is seeing more demand overall for the Groton Food Locker, which provides food bags to residents in need. Residents can receive food from the Food Locker once a month.

“It’s a dramatic increase,” said Social Worker Lisa Carney, who said the schedule for food pickups is packed.

Groton resident Luz Morales was looking forward to a Thanksgiving meal of ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, rice with peas, potato salad, and a little baked macaroni and cheese. Without the help, she said she likely wouldn’t be able to make everything for her family.

“It really does help a lot,” she said. “I’m a single mom and out of work right now, so it does really come in handy.”

A group was volunteering at Friday’s distribution from Groton Public Schools’ Transition Academy, a program that teaches life skills to students with disabilities between the ages of 18 to 22. The volunteers included paraprofessionals Laurel Berns and Jackie Latham and students Austin Morgan, Alfredo Brown, Diamantis Lenoudias, and Joe Joe Jeffreys.

“It makes me feel so happy,” Lenoudias said of helping people get ready for their Thanksgiving meal.

Jim Mitchell was among a group of members of the Rotary Club of Groton helping out on Friday. He said the club is involved in community projects and members do all they can to help the community. He said the distribution is an annual worthy cause.

“It’s a service to the community and a service to the people,” he said.

Rotary Club Treasurer Lea Doran said the Rotary Club fund raises money for Groton Human Services, with Liberty Bank pitching in to add a match to the funds.

Resident Jossie Quinones on Friday picked up food and a voucher for a turkey so she and her husband could have a home-cooked meal.

Quinones said her family is low-income and with her husband working part-time and food being really expensive, the Thanksgiving distribution helps a lot.

“I feel happy, and I feel blessed,” she said.

People who want to sign up for Groton Human Services’ Christmas holiday distribution on Dec. 16 or who wish to donate, can find out more information by visiting the department’s website, https://www.groton-ct.gov/departments/humanservices/index.php, or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/GrotonHumanServices/ or by calling the department at (860) 441-6760. The distribution will be for toys for children under 12 and food boxes. Applications are due Dec. 5.

k.drelich@theday.com