Bridging the Gap Between The Homeless and Hot Meals

By DEBRA ALFARONE

Updated 4:30 PM EST, Fri, Nov 6, 2009

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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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0 Comments

{"totSize":3,"payload_type":"json","status":"1","results":[{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"396499_69403567","adminTags":null,"views":279,"createdBy":7918844,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Bridging the Gap Between The Homeless and Hot Meals","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2668334,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"6 Nov 2009 22:33:10 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":3,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"anonymous_user","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1201264","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"What the woman from Trumbull didn't say is that the King's Pantry has never missed a Sunday in 20 years. The Souplady has been serving for 18 years. She also didn't say that she is ONE OF MANY who bring food, clothing and other neccessities to the people under the bridge. People come from Milford, Stratford and Orange bringing food and supplies. Tarinelli also goes out and feeds AFTER she calls the CT POST or a TV station first. She just does it for the publicity. I wish she would stop contacting the media."},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"396499_69403567","adminTags":null,"views":279,"createdBy":7918844,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Bridging the Gap Between The Homeless and Hot Meals","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2668334,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"15 Nov 2009 18:21:21 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":3,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"anonymous_user","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1248238","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"It's a sad day when someone is trying to help the homeless community, and has been for years, gets slandered for the unselfish work that Tarinelli does. The bottom line is that she's helping the homeless. PERIOD. It's absurd to say she would contact the media."},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"396499_69403567","adminTags":null,"views":279,"createdBy":7918844,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Bridging the Gap Between The Homeless and Hot Meals","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2668334,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"19 Nov 2009 14:35:07 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":3,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"anonymous_user","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1271169","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"This is Debra Alfarone, the reporter who did this story. Tarinelli did not contact me. An organizer of a similar cause at St. James Church in Stratford told me about Tarinelli. I contacted her, talked to her and found her story to be inspiring. I'm sure what the "Souplady" and many others are doing are just as inspiring and I applaud anyone who helps others out of the kindness of their hearts. In fact, Tarinelli did mention them to me. The post from Anonymous doesn't sound like it embodies the charitable spirit I found so inspiring in Tarinelli. That's too bad. "}],"error":"","totPages":1}