Bridging the Gap Between The Homeless and Hot Meals
By DEBRA ALFARONE
Updated 4:30 PM EST, Fri, Nov 6, 2009
Every other Sunday, Ann Marie Tarinelli of Trumbull puts on a one-woman soup-kitchen in an unlikely place.
Hundreds of homeless and hungry people gather to wait for Tarinelli underneath the State Street bridge in Bridgeport. Tarinelli says people might be surprised to see the size of the crowd. "There's a big need, really a big need. You can tell when someone's hungry and they were hungry."
Tarinelli makes a full meal -- dinner and dessert. "I started to make it just the way I would for my own family, like when I cook lasagna, or anything, I make it exactly the same way I would serve it, it's gotta just have everything."
She went the extra mile for Alta Thompson of Bridgeport, bringing her a birthday cake.
Tarinelli says she's always volunteered, starting at convalescent homes years ago. Then, she heard about King's Pantry, a non-profit organization that she says hands out sandwiches by the bridge. She started cooking and never looked back.
Tarinelli says people donate food and money, but she needs more. If you would like to help, you can reach Tarinelli at 203-268-5553.
First Published: Nov 6, 2009 4:20 PM EST
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