Free Meals-Ready-to-Eat Available to Residents; One Shelter Will Close

As the , the city is closing one of its three shelters. It is also offering meals-ready-to-eat (MRE’s) and bottled water to residents, according to the Meriden Health Department. 

The overnight shelter at Thomas Edison Middle School, 1355 North Broad Street, will be closed as of 4 p.m. Thursday, November 3, 2011.

Shelters at Lincoln Middle School, 164 Centennial Ave., and the Meriden Senior Center, 1355 North Broad Street, will remain open as warming shelters from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. and then as overnight shelters at 4 p.m.

Starting at 2 p.m. Thursday, residents with identification can pick up meals-ready-to-eat (MRE’s) and bottled water the city has received from the Red Cross at the city's distribution center at 55 Michael Drive in Meriden. According to the Health Department, "food will be distributed on a per-family basis." The distribution center will be open from 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. Thursday.

For more information on soup kitchens, food pantries and showers, see our article .

For residents who want to donate food for the shelters, the Health Department is accepting non-perishables at the two shelters. These include: peanut butter, canned tuna and chicken, canned fruit, diapers, baby food, utensils and paper goods. "If donations are not used during this emergency they will be distributed to those in need throughout the coming months," said a release from the Health Department.