Hartford H.O.G. Turkey Drop this Sunday!

The first of many Turkey and Thirty drives kicks off this Sunday in East Hartford. The 21st annual event, which is organized by the Hartford Harley Owners’ Group (H.O.G.), seeks to assist families who need extra help putting a traditional holiday meal on the table. Many thanks to The Whale 102.9 who will also be on site that day!

When: Sunday, November 1, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Where: Gengras Harley-Davidson, 221 Governor Street, East Hartford, CT

Frozen turkeys and monetary donations are welcome...come on down!

You can check out all of the upcoming drives on our website at www.ATurkeyand30.org.

Credit unions give back

Tell #CUsGIVEBACK that Foodshare is your favorite charity and we could win $5,000 to feed local families this holiday season! More information online at http://ctcreditunions.org/giveback.

Pediatricians to ask about hunger

The American Academy of Pediatrics is urging pediatricians to screen all patients for food insecurity and to refer parents to appropriate agencies so children do not go hungry. Sixteen million children live in homes where there is consistently not enough food, according to USDA. Those children get sick more often, have poorer overall health and are hospitalized more frequently than peers who are adequately nourished. The academy said that pediatricians might identify hungry children by posing two questions to parents: whether, in the last year, they worried that their food would run out before they had money to buy more, and whether the groceries they bought lasted until they had money available to buy more. The answers to these questions identify 97% of families that are struggling with food insecurity.

Source: New York Times, 10/23/15, Doctors Ask About Hunger

Get your 'Game' on this November!

Thanksgiving is a holiday for everyone--something shared across communities, across faiths, across the country. Your gift of a turkey (or several turkeys!) will ensure that your neighbors who are struggling can join in the celebration. And your gift of cash will help put food on the table after the holiday has come to an end.

Take part in Turkey Wars, and battle it out to collect the most turkeys -- a friendly competition between friends to help our hungry neighbors. Or visit http://www.aTurkeyand30.org/ to learn more about the ways you can fight hunger this November!

A creative way to support Foodshare!

Bank of America's tax processing office in Windsor allowed staff to wear shorts to work on Fridays this past summer, if, and only if, they donated $25 to Foodshare. Being the smart financial people that they are, the employee group was able to parlay their donations into the 2-for-1 matching program at Bank of America, tripling their gift to Foodshare this Fall!

HAT volunteers pick & distribute 11,000 lbs. of butternut squash

The East Windsor Hunger Action Team (HAT) partnered with Reichle Farms in South Windsor again this year to glean butternut squash. A total of 11,000 pounds of butternut squash was gleaned by over 50 local volunteers on October 4 and October 11. Thank you to organizer and East Windsor HAT Gleaning Captain, Peter Stagon, as well as Earl Reichle for opening his fields to us. Additional support was provided by Bill and Marie Groves and David Hansen from Five Corner Cupboard in East Windsor, as well as Gary Richards from the East Hartford Hunger Action Team.

All 11,000 pounds of the butternut squash was distributed locally, along with recipes, to East Windsor, East Hartford, Enfield, Somers and Hartford. Learn more about Foodshare's Hunger Action Teams on our website, or contact Beatrice Maslowski, Community Network Builder at (860)286-9999.

Summer meals numbers are in...

Many of our Hunger Action Teams (HATs) were hard at work over the past 6 months trying to improve participation in the USDA's Summer Food Service Program. We are happy to report on the regional highlights of 2015:

• More than 586,000 summer meals were provided across Hartford & Tolland counties, Foodshare's service area.
• The city of Bristol had the largest percent increase at 68%.
• Compared to last summer, we saw a 4% increase across the region.
• Overall, participation in the 12 HAT-supported communities increased by 4%.
• Participation across the region is equivalent to providing approximately one meal per week over the summer to each eligible child.
• The highest participation was found in Bloomfield where approximately 3 meals per week were provided over the summer to each eligible child.

If you love numbers and want to know more about the impact of this work in Hartford, click here to view the full report.

Apply for The Sodexo Foundation's Get 5. Give 5.

The Sodexo Foundation - Stop Hunger Scholarships reward students working to solve hunger in their communities. Winners get $5,000 for college and a $5,000 grant to give to the charity of their choice. Apply by Dec. 5 to‪ #‎GET5GIVE5 in your hometown. 

Lifting the stigma for those in need

The United Congregational Church of Tolland (UCCT) was delighted when Rev. Jeff Gallagher approached the pulpit with orange spiked hair on Sunday, October 4. The change in appearance announced that the congregation had reached its goal of 200 participants in the Foodshare SNAP Challenge. During September's Hunger Action Month, in partnership with Foodshare and the Tri-Town Hunger Action Team, The Missions Committee of UCCT challenged folks to try and live on $4.40 per day - the average amount received by those eligible for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly called food stamps).

This was the second year that UCC Tolland participated in the SNAP Challenge. In 2014, 100 volunteers took the challenge and raised $2,000 for Foodshare. This year, there were 200 participants who raised a total of $3,082.43 for Foodshare!

UCCT is about lifting the stigma that keeps families from accepting support in the form of SNAP benefits, fuel assistance, food pantries and other social services that are meant to help us during times of crisis. We have come to realize that we must combat hunger not just through a donation, but through education and compassion said Rev. Judy Medeiros. The United Congregational Church is proud to be a site for the Mobile Foodshare program that brings fresh produce to their parking lot for distribution every other Thursday from 9-9:30 a.m.

Does this story inspire you?  Take the SNAP Challenge and share your experience with us!

A Visit with State Representative Tim LeGeyt

James Arena-DeRosa, Foodshare President and
C.E.O. Tim LeGeyt, State Representative for
Avon and Canton Sarah Santora, Community
Involvement Mgr, Foodshare

UCONN Dietetics students distributing healthy recipe
cards Tim LeGeyt, State Representative for Avon and
Canton Diana Goode Executive Director, Gifts of Love
Avon James Arena-DeRosa, Foodshare President and C.E.O.

State Representative Tim LeGeyt visited a Mobile Foodshare site in Avon to talk with constituents, help distribute fresh food and to meet Foodshare’s new President and CEO James Arena-DeRosa. The site distributes food to more than 70 people in need every other Tuesday from 10:00 – 10:30 am at the American Muslim Center, 35 Harris Road, Avon. The next distribution will be on November 3rd. Avon Social Services and Gifts of Love also help to coordinate the site.







Rep. LeGeyt has been a longtime friend of Foodshare, joining us at Mobile Foodshare each year and staying in touch with the Farmington Valley Hunger Action Team.

If you are interested in learning more about fighting hunger in the Farmington Valley, contact Bea Maslowski, Foodshare Community Network Builder at (860) 286-9999 x180.

NAPA Helps Keep Hungry Neighbors on the Road

Pictured (left to right) are: Esther Bermudez and family; Vinh Vuong, Foodshare Agency Relations; Carmelo Rivera and her husband, Tom Pantini; NAPA CT Wholesale Manager Scott Kertansis, NAPA CT Outside Sales; Jill Nulsen, Foodshare Events Assistant; Louise Douglas; and John Natale, NAPA C.A.R.S., Cromwell. (Not pictured: David Hansen).

For people struggling to buy food, transportation is both essential and expensive. And too often the choice is between eating and getting to work. That’s why NAPA, the National Auto Parts Association, decided to help through their NAPA Cares program. And yesterday local NAPA representatives came to Foodshare to donate four $500 gift certificates for car care to four recipients who were nominated through NAPA entry boxes at Foodshare. The timing couldn’t be better – with winter approaching, these four individuals will be able to address critical needs before the snow flies.  And the caring was very real: when they heard that one of the recipients had to stop on her way to the event to refill the air in a leaking tire, NAPA representatives John Natale, Tom Pantini, and Scott Kertansis put their heads together and found a solution for her tire situation as well! It takes the whole community working together to meet needs, and NAPA’s generosity brought these recipients joy, happy tears, and more reliable transportation. A big thank you to John Natale for organizing this effort!

High Holy Days Annual Drive Success!

A big thank you to one of our long-time community partners, Congregation Beth Israel, for their generous food and fund donation to Foodshare during their High Holy Days. Over $4,000 in financial donations and enough food to provide 5,000 meals were donated through their annual drive. A special thanks to the Social Justice Committee who worked so hard on our behalf!

Turkey Hero

For the past 11 years, Joseph Steckel has run a turkey drive at the government building in Hartford where he works. He says he started doing this to build morale at the office, and it seems to have worked: over the past 11 years, he and his officemates have donated to Foodshare 1,500 turkeys and almost $30,000. He'll be out there again this year, on November 24, to add to that total. And he'll follow that by participating in the Manchester Road Race, where he will have banners and a table celebrating the turkey donations. This is the kind of quiet dedication that makes our hunger work possible. Hats off to Joe!

A Hole in One for Foodshare!

The Machinist Club of East Hartford generously gave half of the proceeds from their annual golf tournament to Foodshare -- over $3,300! Thank you, Machinists and all of the golf teams who participated.

If you or your organization would like to make Foodshare a beneficiary of an event like this, we are ready, willing and able to help publicize and support your efforts on our behalf. Contact Al Marino at (860) 286-9999 for more information.

Homemade Veggies

These little miracles showed up in Foodshare's break room today, and though they may look ordinary, they represent a number of breakthroughs. First, they were grown in a tower garden, which is an aeroponic system--the plants grow without soil, just a nutrient mist sprayed on dangling roots. These small systems (smaller than a Christmas tree) can produce a harvest every four weeks year-round.

The tower garden that produced these particular vegetables is one of three that are part of a pilot program being run by the Upper Albany Hunger Action Team. The principle is that these kinds of gardens, which take up very little space and can be maintained indoors, are ideally suited to urban neighborhoods like Upper Albany. And they are far more productive that conventional gardens: those three tower gardens are currently feeding 15 families year-round with various lettuce and tomato varieties, pak choy, cucumbers, peppers, melons, Brussels sprouts, and kale. This is the kind of innovative, locally tailored solution that Hunger Action Teams are finding across our region.

Raymour & Flanigan's 'A Night with Foodshare'

Join Raymour & Flanigan in helping Foodshare fight hunger in the Greater Hartford area:

Wednesday, November 11th

5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

490 New Park Avenue, West Hartford, CT

Enjoy great food and refreshments, visit the displays of your local businesses and take part in exciting raffles. Foodshare's partners will be on hand to discuss their part in helping families, friends or neighbors throughout the year. For a heartwarming night of fun while helping a worth cause minimize hunger --- please join us!

Volunteers make it all happen!

A big thank you to our volunteer force at the Hartford Marathon this past week! Foodshare was one of the Official Charities of the Marathon this year. Pictured are 10 of the 30 volunteers who came either on October 8th to the Total Fitness Expo or on October 10th to help with course monitoring for the Half Marathon.

Thank you to all the volunteers -- YOU make it happen!

Now that's a lot of mesh!

The Hartford's HR employees took time during their town hall meeting last week to make mesh bags. We use these bags to distribute donated produce to our neighbors in need.  The group used an entire 90 lb. spool of mesh tubing to create 12,000 bags!  Thank you to all who participated in this amazing accomplishment!!

Blue jean Friday at IE Academy

A great big thank you to the students and staff of the IE Academy in West Hartford for donating their "Blue Jean Friday" fundraiser proceeds to Foodshare! Josh and Alex are regular volunteers and presented the check last Tuesday. Many thanks!

East Hartford HAT celebrates anniversary!

The East Hartford Hunger Action Team (HAT) celebrated their second anniversary at the October 8th meeting with cupcakes, macoun apples and cider with 21 members in attendance.  The inaugural meeting with 15 people was held on October 10, 2013. During the last 2 years the team has grown to include over 125 members representing more than 50 organizations. Recent initiatives include a successful summer evening meals program, distribution of over 100 boxes per month of food for seniors, a teaching garden at Goodwin Elementary School, and collaboration with local farmer's to glean over 2,500 pounds of fresh local produce for distribution to more than 15 local organizations in need.

For additional information on Hunger Action Teams, please contact Beatrice Maslowski, Community Network Builder, at Foodshare by calling 860-286-9999 x 180

A Gift from the Turkish Cultural Center

Left to Right: Mehmet Erdogdu, Executive Director of the Turkish Cultural Center of CT, Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra and Jim Palma, Foodshare.

Zakāt, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is the charitable giving of a percentage of one’s possessions (surplus wealth, including food) to those in need. The Islamic community has a duty to not only collect zakat, but to distribute it equitably as well.

On Tuesday, the Turkish Cultural Center of Connecticut presented 200 pounds of specially prepared meats to Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra, who in turn donated the meat to Foodshare for distribution. This is the second year the Turkish Cultural Center has made this donation in Hartford and the fifth year in New Haven.

Many thanks to the Turkish Cultural Center for thinking of our hungry neighbors during these difficult times!

MetroHartford Alliance Rising Star Breakfast

Foodshare's Beatrice Maslowski and United Way's Amy Helbing (photo courtesy of MaryEllen Fillo)

The MetroHartford Alliance Rising Star Breakfast was held at the Hartford Marriott downtown on September 12. Among those attending the breakfast to discuss the "ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed" working poverty report were Foodshare representatives, Beatrice Maslowski (pictured), Community Network Builder and Terri Loso, Volunteer Services Lead. Foodshare has a long term partnership with the United Way, and the ALICE report is a valuable tool for discussing the hardship that many Connecticut families face who earn too little to afford the basic necessities.

Credit Where It's Due

Over the past week, Foodshare has been putting up plaques on various parts of the Bloomfield building to honor people who have made significant contributions to our Bridging the Gap Campaign, and this morning the honor went to one of our own. Ann Thomas, Foodshare's consulting CFO, was a contributor to the campaign, along with her husband, Michael Bonzagni. Their participation was marked this morning with an unveiling of a plaque next to her office door and a round of applause from Foodshare staff.

Congress Passes Bill Funding Government

A message from Feeding America:

"Today, Congress voted on a short-term spending bill to keep the government funded through December 11, 2015. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 78-20, and the House passed the bill by a vote of 271-151. The President is expected to sign the bill shortly.

With a shutdown averted, attention now turns to Congress to negotiate a broader budget deal in December. Democrats are demanding increases in domestic spending to match any boost for military spending. But raising existing spending caps will raise opposition from conservative Republicans who will also seek to attach controversial policy riders.

Will there be any impact on federal nutrition programs?

All federal nutrition programs will continue to operate as usual at least through December 11, 2015. There should be no interruption in SNAP benefits and all commodity, child nutrition, and seniors programs will continue operating under current law.

Additionally, the CR included a provision that should allow SNAP benefits to be funded through the entire month of January. This should hopefully remove the prospect of delayed benefits should a timely agreement to fund the government beyond December 11th not be reached and provide a cushion to ensure SNAP benefits can continue to be paid if a shutdown occurs at that point.

What about Child Nutrition Reauthorization which was set to expire on Sept. 30?
Unfortunately, Congress was not able to reauthorize the Child Nutrition bill before the deadline of September 30. While the programs will continue to operate under current law, it is critical that Congress completes the reauthorization bill as soon as possible. Remember, the reauthorization process is our chance to make much needed investments toward closing the summer meal gap. We know the Senate is very close to introducing a reauthorization bill. Ranking Member Sen. Debbie Stabenow said today that the Agriculture Committee has made "positive steps." That's a good sign. But we can't let CNR get pushed aside by larger political dynamics likely to emerge in December and election year politics of 2016. Now is the time to act!"

To stay current on these issues, and more, become a Foodshare e-Advocate today!

October: Immediate Volunteer Needs

Volunteer Crew Members Needed!
Foodshare's facilities in Bloomfield and Hartford need additional volunteers to come in regularly on weekdays to help inspect and sort donated items for distribution. Volunteers should be able to work on their feet for a few hours at a time and lift boxes of up to 30 pounds. Please contact Edna for more information.

Mobile Foodshare
We are looking for regular volunteers to ride in our Mobile Foodshare Trucks on Monday and Friday mornings and for a few back-up volunteers to fill in when a regular volunteer is sick. Volunteers should be able to lift boxes of up to 30 pounds and work on their feet. Please contact Edna for more information or to sign up.

Additional opportunities are always available online.