About Us
We are a local food bank that was established by the Seymour Oxford Clergy Association in 1979 to meet the growing request for food assistance within the church communities. Churches in the two towns supported the food bank with food and monetary donations. In 1981, the food bank became a member of the Valley Food Bank Network and began serving all residents of Seymour and Oxford in need who fell below poverty level.
The food bank became incorporated in 2014, thus becoming the Seymour Oxford Food Bank, Inc. governed by a Board of Directors and run by a staff of volunteers. In December of 2015, the food bank relocated to the basement of the Seymour Community Center where more space allows our clients to shop for themselves, by appointment, with the assistance of a Shopping Pal.
The SOFB received its 501(c)3 charitable organization status in 2016 allowing for all contributions to be fully tax-deductible.
In 2023, the food bank distributed 143,738 pounds of food to 3,069 people thanks to many donations from community individuals and businesses.
Mission
The purpose of the Seymour Oxford Food Bank:
- Provide Connecticut residents who verbally attest to meeting the current federal income eligibility guidelines for TEFAP with emergency food and limited access to the pantry
- Provide full access of the food bank to residents of Seymour and Oxford who verbally attest to meeting current federal income eligibility guidelines
- Deal directly with issues of hunger and other human needs in the Seymour and Oxford communities
- Acquire, store, and distribute food to reduce hunger in the Seymour communities
- Identify other financially affordable local food sources
- Have a commitment to work cooperatively with other community agencies