About Us

About Us

About Us

We are the Whalers Helping Whalers organization, a 501 c3 non-profit organization who fights against food insecurity in the New London, Connecticut area. This organization was founded on May 6th, 2020 with only $1,000 and 250 meals to make. Since then, we have served over 45,000 readymade meals for those who do not have the ability to cook for themselves. We have also started a food pantry where members of the community can come in and select meat, bread, produce, dairy, eggs, pantry essentials and other household products in a grocery store style environment. Through our pantry, we have given away over 1,000,000 pounds of food not including the meals. Outside of the food pantry, we host a diaper bank which currently gives out 100 diapers each month to 200 children, feminine hygiene items for women are also available, along with handing out adult incontinence products to seniors.

Whalers Helping Whalers also hosts events to create a community in New London. In April, we hold our Easter Egg Hunt at Bartlett Park. During last year’s event we gave out over 1,200 candy filled eggs. There have been live DJs, face painting, animal balloons, and so much more. In August, we host our back-to-school event. This is a family style event where we have a DJ, hot dogs, hamburgers, other food, and drinks. School age children receive backpacks which include school supplies. Towards the end of October, we have our Halloween event during where we give out winter jackets, hats, gloves, and boots. We took over the boot event from TVCCA. We have given out over 1,300 jackets to kids and adults along with 900 pairs of boots, and 1,000 pairs of gloves and hats. We have even had a group of ladies from the Hispanic Alliance knit hats for us. Later into November, our Thanksgiving celebration happens which includes 500 meals, 200 baskets that include a Turkey or other protein with all the fixings. In December, we hold our Annual Holiday Event where Santa gives away gifts to the children. During this event, we hand out 500 meals for those who can’t cook and 200 baskets that will include a Ham or other protein with all the fixings.

These events would not be possible without our partners. Some of which include NLPD, NLFD, Salvation Army, the Boys and Girls Club, Safe Futures, the US Coast Guard Academy, LLHD, Staples, the Hispanic Alliance, and Bikes for Kids CT. Whalers Helping Whalers would also like to thank Connecticut Foodshare, Gemma Moran United Way, the Elks Club, Ivy’s Catering and Prepared Meals, and Giuliano’s Bakery for their contributions to our organization. Thanks to our donators, Baruno, Hannaford, Heap, Aurello & Company, Chelsea Groton bank, and Dime Bank, we are able to continue to help and better the community.

The Whalers Helping Whalers Organization is on a mission to help New London families in need. As we grow, we are constantly listening to what the community needs are while taking care of the most requested needs. With your support, we can continue to help the local families in need and continue to stomp out hunger in New London.

– Whalers Helping Whalers

New London volunteers deliver surprise for the holidays

New London — When Thomas “Chef Tomm” Johnson began his Whalers Helping Whalers initiative early in the pandemic to help feed the masses, he had no idea how long the need would last.

It’s eight months later and, after a break after summer, Johnson is at it again and leading a band of volunteers to raise money, secure food, cook the food and deliver upward of 600 meals each week to people in need.

With the high school under construction, Johnson, who is the culinary department manager at New London High School, has found a new home at the Elks Lodge in New London for his activities.

On Saturday, he had something special planned. It’s called Miracle Families and it is similar to an initiative run in conjunction with the school in past years. Along with all of the fixings for a full family holiday meal being delivered to numerous families across the city, 10 families were in line to receive a special boost of holiday cheer.

Those families were to receive food along with gift certificates, gifts and in some cases a Christmas tree with all of the trimmings. The families were identified through the city’s Department of Human Services Help Line and among other sponsors, Shop Rite pitched in $3,000 and Target $1,000.

Johnson’s crew of helpers on Saturday included New London firefighters, police, school district counselors and others making deliveries throughout the city.

“We’re trying to give them a cool Christmas,” Johnson said.

When Whalers Helping Whalers started earlier this year, Johnson was joined by some prominent local chefs who have since returned to their own jobs. His cooks these days on Saturdays when they prepare meals include former students, members of the Ledge Light Health District Medical Reserve Corps and others.

“We’re going to keep going until we run out of money or people aren’t hungry anymore,” Johnson said.

He said support from the community has been amazing. Whalers Helping Whalers, now officially a nonprofit, has raised $30,000 to date, including a $12,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, and served more than 13,000 meals and 30,000 pounds of food.

Local restaurants have pitched in to prepare meals and a host of organizations have stepped up to volunteer or identify families and individuals in need.

Johnson said he intends to raise more to tackle food insecurity in New London.

“People are still struggling,” he said. “It’s seems to be getting a little bit worse. Maybe it’s the time of the year.”

Bringing people together to cook, share nourishing food, with the goals of taking care of the families of New London.

The mission of Whalers Helping Whalers is to help New London families in need. Since our inception, we have given out over 1,000,000 pounds of bulk food and have cooked and distributed over 45,000 meals. Currently, we have our pantry open on Saturdays from 11am to 1pm and by appointment and is located at the New London Lodge of Elks BPOE 360.

Our pantry allows those in need to pick the foods they want and not simply pick up random box which may or may not needed by an individual or family. As the fall and winter approach, we will be expanding our offering outside of the food. We will be giving out new winter jackets, hats, and gloves to at least 600 individuals. Our programs also includes distribution of Thanksgiving meals, Christmas holiday meal baskets so families can cook at home, and fully prepared meals for those who are unable to prepare on their own. For the last several years, we have partnered with the New London Police Department and New London Fire Department to distribute toys to families and Chef Tomm goes out dressed as Santa to some of the homes and delivers gifts.  Whalers helping Whalers in thankful to our hosts, the New London Lodge of Elks BPOE where we have had a home since the creation of WhW.

Although all are thrilled to see Santa, it is the children and their smiles that truly embody what Whalers Helping Whalers is all about. We are simply a community helping each other. We are Whalers.