Hungry for Change: Building a Coalition to Solve Hunger in Connecticut

Join us this Hunger Action Month for the Hungry for Change statewide conference! This inspiring and informative morning will provide an opportunity to connect with others, discuss the current state of hunger in Connecticut, and share ideas about collaborative action as we work toward a common agenda.

When: Wednesday, September 20 from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm.
Where: Chrysalis Training & Conference Center, 255 Homestead Avenue, Hartford
RSVP here by Thursday, September 14. Space is limited and breakfast will be provided.

What:

-      Data and information about hunger in Connecticut and the core policies that support food security
-      Key note speaker Joel Berg from Hunger Free America

-      Breakout sessions on:

-      Setting a policy agenda that protects government safety net programs

-      Encouraging healthy food access in food pantries and creating model programs

-      Pursuing food justice and addressing inequities in the food system

-      Closing: Planning next steps

Dining For a Cause

Looking to support Foodshare and enjoy a night out with family and friends?

This Wednesday, August 30 Ninety Nine Restaurants will partner with The Hartford Harley Owner’s Group (HOG) to host “Dining for a Cause” in support of our hungry neighbors. 15% of each guest’s check will be donated to Foodshare. Guests must print and present the voucher (see below) to their server at the restaurant’s Glastonbury location.

Summer Meal Champions!

On a rainy Saturday morning in August, thirty-one kids from five towns made their way to Parker Memorial Community Center in Hartford for the Expect More Healthy Kids Championship Event. On the line were awesome prizes: a Minion’s bike, an electric scooter, a Fitbit, and gift cards to Toys R Us and Target.

Leading up to this event, more than 250 children competed each week in July to earn ribbons and an invitation to the final competition. From the kid’s perspective, it was fun and games. But Foodshare had a serious reason behind it -- getting the word out about free summer meals in our region.

Why does Foodshare care about a federal program like summer meals? We realize that the 11.5 million meals we provide at pantries, shelters and community kitchens are only one part of the equation. To keep Connecticut kids strong, we need strong programs in place like school meals and summer meals.

The USDA Summer Meals Program began as an extension of the school lunch program in 1968, yet it is still the ‘best kept secret’ in child nutrition programs. Few parents know that there are free meals for kids at 600 locations across Connecticut -- less than 25 percent of kids who receive a free or reduced cost lunch at school will get a summer meal!

So while the kids enjoyed fun activities – field games, basketball, and Yard Goats baseball - we were asking them to go back to friends and family as ‘ambassadors’ for the free meals at their summer programs. A week of nutrition education rounded the activities out, with the help of the SNAP4CT staff who taught basic “My Plate” rules for healthy eating during relay races. Fox61 and iHeart Radio provided a media spotlight to get the word out. Panera provided delicious sandwiches for competitors and their families at the championship, and donations to Foodshare from their new delivery program. Stop & Shop provided the funding for us to do this important outreach. It was truly a team effort and we can Expect More Healthy Kids as a result.

Foodshare thanks all of our partners and special thanks to the City of Hartford Department of Families, Children, Youth and Recreation who graciously facilitated activities on two sites and provided the Championship venue. Thanks to Fox61 morning anchor Tim Lammers for acting as master of ceremonies, a passionate advocate for Connecticut kids!

Joy in Childhood Foundation Awards Foodshare $100,000 Grant

Over the next three years, the Joy in Childhood Foundation, in partnership with Feeding America, is providing $1.5 million in grants to food banks across the country to support local child hunger programs. This year, we are very excited to announce that Foodshare is one of nearly 20 food banks selected and will receive a multi-year, $100,000 grant from the Joy in Childhood Foundation! This funding will strengthen Foodshare’s efforts to support local programs that feed children in Greater Hartford, through healthy food distribution and capacity building.

Representatives from the Joy in Childhood Foundation joined us last week at Dunkin' Donuts stadium in Hartford to celebrate this grant award, along with youngsters from Hartford’s summer program at the Department of Families, Children, Youth, and Recreation. The children were invited to the stadium to participate in pitching, hitting and running clinics with the Hartford Yard Goats.
 

Many thanks to the Joy in Childhood Foundation for this generous support!

FoodXChange Draws 165 Hartford Residents

One hundred and sixty-five people attended the first ever FoodXChange program at the Hartford Public Library, SAND/Ropkins Branch on July 26, 2017. The event was a partnership of Foodshare’s Promise Zone Hunger Action Team, Hartford Public Library, Farrell Treatment Center, and the House of Bread. This pilot program invited community members to exchange their packaged, processed foods for fresh fruits generously donated by the House of Bread. Altogether, the event exchanged 301 servings of processed, prepackaged food for 653 servings of fresh produce! Most of the participants were parents and children.

In addition to providing participants with healthy food, the FoodXChange featured a number of activities like:

• Live music performed by two students and a teacher from the Charter Oak Cultural Center.
• A sugar demonstration and healthy recipe booklets provided by the UConn SNAP-Ed nutrition program.
• A kid's area with interactive games.

Thank you to all of the community partners and residents who helped make this event a success! 

Ford and Foodshare Fight Hunger

Now is the time to purchase that Ford that you have always wanted! 

During the month of August, local Ford dealerships within the Hartford and Tolland region will support our hungry neighbors through their “Drive Against Hunger Campaign”. For every car sold, the dealership will donate $10 to Foodshare.

Click on flyer below for more details

Students Earn Their Passports to Nutrition

Recently, Stop & Shop of East Hartford ,volunteered at Robert J. O'Brien STEM Academy. Associates introduced students to nutrition facts through their Passport to Nutrition program. The program focuses on: what nutrients are, MyPlate and the 5 food groups, the importance of exercise and staying hydrated, the role of the senses in tasting food, how to read food labels, and portion control.

The children sampled low sodium cheese, whole wheat bread, apple slices, and organic cereal and had the opportunity to pet a lobster. They also received an activity book, some fruit, a juice box and a frisbee to take home.

Thank you Stop & Shop for sharing healthy eating habits and physical activity with the next generation!

Interested in joining a Hunger Action Team? View our website for more information. 

Public-Private Workforce Development Partnership at Asnuntuck Community College

Recently, Foodshare’s Community Involvement VISTA Sarah Hill, attended a public-private workforce development partnership presentation at Asnuntuck Community College. The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving (HFPG) is generously providing a 3-year grant to increase resources for the SNAP Employment and Training Program; which supports post-secondary certificate programs in various industries to low-income students eligible for SNAP benefits. The grant supports a full–time Success Coach, Kamalah Hill, who provides student support services, case management and the implementation of Computer Literacy Classes. The program caters to 12 different health care focuses and now with the opening of the new Advanced Manufacturing Center, manufacturing has been added to the programs available for the SNAP eligible student scholarships. Scholarships include full tuition, books, transportation, and cooperative child care. Asnuntuck Community College hosts Foodshare’s Enfield Hunger Action Team which supports SNAP Employment and Training Programs and the new student pantry located at the college.

Asnuntuck Community College Continuing Education and Workforce Development Dean Eileen Peltier; Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Chief of Staff Alice Pritchard; DSS Commissioner Roderick Bremby; and Director of Grants and Investment Partnerships at the Hartford Foundation Judy McBride; and Asnuntuck Community College President Dr. James Lombella.

Foodshare Friday With UnitedHealthcare

Recently, a group of passionate employees from UnitedHealthcare spent their Friday afternoon volunteering at our warehouse.

Thanks to their hard work and energy they successfully sorted through 3,705 pounds of donated food items for our hungry neighbors!  This will accumulate to over 3,000 meals that will be given to those in need!

Thank you UnitedHealthcare for your many years of continued support!

Aetna Fills Foodshare With Volunteers

This Wednesday was a busy day at Foodshare! We hosted 170 volunteers from Aetna who spent the entire day sorting food to help our neighbors in need, and learning more about hunger in our community.

Our facility at the Hartford Regional Market hosted about 45 of the volunteers and the remaining 125 volunteers were hard at work at our facility in Bloomfield. The volunteers were part of Aetna’s summer internship program, and they included students from over 80 colleges and universities from across the country.

The volunteers were divided into groups and rotated through different stations: sorting donations of meat and other grocery items, sorting produce, and preparing mesh bags that Foodshare uses to pack produce. The Aetna interns also learned more about hunger and its many causes through a Hunger 101 role-play and discussion activity.

Altogether, this energetic group from Aetna sorted 28,500 pounds of food in a single day. That’s enough to provide close to 24,000 meals for our neighbors in need.

A big thank you to the volunteers and staff members from Aetna for taking time to give back to the Greater Hartford community!

Do you have a group that’s interested in volunteering at Foodshare? Click here to learn more!

MassMutual Secures Meals

This past week, a passionate group of employees from MassMutual took a break from developing insurance plans to provide our hungry neighbors with a healthy meal.

During their time at our warehouse, they successfully sorted through 4,480 pounds of food, enough to make over 3,700 meals!

Thank you MassMutual for all of your hard work!

Eversource Energizes Foodshare with Volunteers

Just recently a hardworking group of employees from Eversource took time from their work schedules to volunteer at Foodshare's Bloomfield facility.

During a six-hour time span, the group of volunteers sorted through over 8,000 pounds of  healthy food items. Thanks to their energetic spirit, our hungry neighbors will receive over 7,000 meals!

Thank you Eversource for your support!

Foodshare Was In The House

Foodshare was thrilled to join the Yard Goats at their 4th of July Celebration Game!

Foodshare staff members, families and volunteers came out to support the Yard Goats and Foodshare Sunday July 2.

The night began with our Interim President & CEO, Jack Hackendorn throwing the first pitch. Members of the Development team were then presented with a check from the Ford Motor Company Fund in the amount of $57,000 which reflected their support over the past few years – a great partnership!

A group of passionate volunteers also engaged in the fun by collecting donations and educating Yard Goat fans about the issue of hunger at each entrance of the stadium.
They collected enough money to provide over 4,000 meals to people in Hartford and Tolland counties.

A huge thank you to the Hartford Yard Goats for supporting us in our effort to end hunger and help those in need!

 Click here for more photos->

Healthy FoodXChange

Foodshare's Promise Zone Hunger Action Team (HAT) will be hosting a food exchange program at Hartford Public Library! See flyer below for more details.