Asnuntuck Community College Provides Student Nourishment

Since its opening in February, The Pantry at Asnuntuck Community College has expanded to 166 enrolled recipients and 27 student volunteers. ACC Women’s Leadership Institute graduate Tracy Ouelette, ACC alumna Jordanna Fallon, and Student Activities Director Sherry Paquette founded the pantry after noticing a need among the student body. The Pantry is open Monday-Saturday and provides each student with up to 40 food items per month. It is located in the cashier hallway, and participants need to show a current student ID to be eligible.

Pictured (L-R): Sherry Paquette (ACC), Bea Maslowski (Foodshare), Elizabeth D'Alessandro, & Kathleen Souvigney (Enfield Food Shelf)

The Pantry is sponsored by the ACC Student Government Association, Foodshare, Enfield Food Shelf, ShopRite, Johnson Brunetti Financial Services, and G. Donovan Associates. Sherry Paquette, Tracy Ouelette, and Enfield Food Shelf Executive Director Kathleen Souvigney are all members of Foodshare’s Enfield Hunger Action Team (HAT), which collaborates on efforts to end food insecurity.  To learn more about the Enfield HAT, you can contact our Community Network Builder, Beatrice Maslowski. 

Future Generation Supports Foodshare

Foodshare's Fundraising Events Specialist, Al Marino, recently had a heartwarming visit to The Master's School in West Simsbury.

Approximately thirty 4th and 5th graders had the opportunity to hear Al speak about Foodshare and the important work we do for our hungry neighbors.



They, in turn, shared the results of their recent Ten Talents Project.

Each student had been given $5 and were asked to brainstorm with family and friends to find ways  to take the $5 and expand it to help our neighbors in need.  Household chores, bake sales and small business ideas were all projects that the students used to make the money grow.  Foodshare was chosen as one of the charities to share in the profits.  Al was thrilled to receive a check from the students for an amazing $1,152, which is enough to help Foodshare provide over 2,800 meals! 

We tip our caps off to Mrs. Blanchard and Mrs. Mancini for teaching the students the importance of sharing and giving back!

View more photos->

School Lunch Quality Affects Academic Achievement

In 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. The main goal of the law was to raise the minimum nutritional standards for public school lunches served as part of the National School Lunch Program. The policy discussion surrounding the new law centered on the underlying health reasons for offering more nutritious school lunches, in particular, concern over the number of children who are overweight...

Surprisingly, the debate over the new law involved very little discussion as to whether providing a more nutritious school lunch could improve student learning.

A new study attempts to fill this gap, measuring the effect of offering healthier public school lunches on end of year academic test scores for public school students in California.

It finds that when a school contracts with a company that provides healthier lunches, students score better on end-of-year academic tests than those in schools that contract for less healthier meals...

Test scores are also 40% higher for students who qualify for reduced-price or free school lunches."


Source: Brookings Institution, 5/3/17, Quality School Meals

UConn is Helping our Hungry Neighbors

Foodshare would like to acknowledge UConn Help the Hungry, an initiative to end food waste within the UConn family. The five students set 3 goals: educating students, helping UConn give back, and putting healthy food on the table for our food-insecure neighbors. 

For more information, watch the UConn Help the Hungry campaign video above. #GYSD

FRAC Releases School Breakfast Toolkit for Principals

"School breakfast participation tends to be lower in middle and high schools than in elementary schools, and as a result, fewer teens are benefiting from the improved educational and health outcomes linked to school breakfast. Barriers such as hectic morning schedules, late bus arrivals, and social stigma contribute to this trend.

To help principals increase school breakfast participation among teens, FRAC and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) partnered to release the Secondary School Principals’ Breakfast After the Bell Toolkit."

Source: FRAC, 4/2017, Learn More >

Hunger Effects a Child's Academic Progress

"Growing up in a hungry household in the first couple of years of life can hurt how well a child performs in school years later, according to a new study. An estimated 13.1 million children live in homes with insufficient food, according to the most recent figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Many of those children experience hunger during their first few years of life, or their parents are hungry and stressed out about food during those years – the most crucial time for a child's development."

Source: NPR, 3/23/17, Learn More >

Foodshare's 4th Annual HAT Symposium

Passionate. Energetic. Committed. These three words describe each individual that attended the 4th Annual Foodshare Hunger Action Team (HAT) Symposium on March 23.

A large number of Foodshare staff, partners, and friends gathered at the Chrysalis Training Center in Hartford, to acknowledge the accomplishments of our 20 Hunger Action Teams. Foodshare staff offered encouraging words to all of our Hunger Action Team members, recognizing the incredible work they make possible. One of the highlights was, of course, the keynote speaker—Dr. M. Saud Anwar, a physician and humanitarian from South Windsor, as well as a founding member of the South Windsor Hunger Action Team.

With microphone in hand, Dr. Anwar spoke passionately about health outcomes and the positive effects that come from eating nutritious food.

Dr. M Saud Anwar

Guests were inspired by his words, including Community Involvement VISTA, Sarah Hill, who had this to share, "After hearing his outstanding analogies, I personally felt very motivated to change the way that I think about food portions, and how to handle my own health habits." 

Stop & Shop's Our Family Foundation was recognized for their ongoing support of Foodshare's efforts to combat child hunger, through Hunger Action Teams and other vital programs. Representatives from each HAT painted a picture of their own team’s accomplishments over the past year, and offered an update on plans for new possibilities. The symposium culminated in an opportunity for guests to connect with one another during breakout sessions to explore a variety of hunger-related topics, from rescuing healthy food to college food pantries.

You can catch a glimpse of our wonderful keynote speaker on Foodshare's YouTube channel, or view more photos of the symposium. 

Interested in joining a HAT? Contact Foodshare's Community Network Builders, Jim or Bea for more information.

MCC Will Host Forum on Food Insecuity

On March 30 and 31, Manchester Community College will be hosting a  two-day dialogue forum that will focus on food insecurity and inequality.

View flyer below for more information.

No Meals May Mean No Snow Days

"When school districts decide to stay open during inclement weather, many parents assume that it relates to the roads.

But there’s another reason schools are reluctant to grant snow days: Their students may have little to eat at home. According to the Agriculture Department, 20 million students receive free lunch, and 11.7 million receive free breakfast, at school."



Source: The Washington Post, 3/15/17, Learn More>

UCONN Panelists Focus on Food Waste

On Thursday, April 6th at 6pm,  UCONN's Science Salon will host a panel of faculty, and students,  who will be discussing current efforts on reducing food waste. The panel is formally entitled, Throwing It All Away: America's Food Waste Epidemic.

If interested in attending, click here for more information.

Seniors Fed Thanks to Middle Schoolers

Look who we found in our warehouse...a group of lively youngsters from St. Timothy Middle School! Thanks to all of  their hard work and energy, over 400 boxes of food were recently distributed, through the CSFP program, to seniors living in Greater Hartford.

Thank you St. Timothy for engaging your students in this effort to make our community stronger and healthier!

View Photos >

Social Justice Club Tackles Hunger at Capital Community College

Unemployed since 2010, Yvonne Duhaney understands the struggle many of her peers face. She and her now 14-year-old daughter signed up for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps), but when she decided to start school full-time at Capital Community College, her assistance was cut. Purchasing enough food for them both on a SNAP budget had suddenly become much more challenging. Her mother passed away during her first semester, straining her resources even further.

None of this stopped Yvonne from achieving her degree in Social Work, which is quite remarkable. In fact, her experience inspired her to do even more for her community. During the summer of 2015, after completing all of her required hours for service learning, Yvonne decided to start a food pantry on campus. Professor Michelle White suggested that she institutionalize the project in the form of a student club, ensuring university support and providing space to operate her pantry.

Through a series of food & fundraisers, and word of mouth, the pantry’s popularity grew quickly, bringing in donations beyond food, including diapers and toiletries. Students outside of the social service realm got involved, and what began as one student’s passion slowly transitioned to a campus-wide Social Justice Club. But she worried about what would happen to Capital’s pantry once she left, and all those who came to rely on it.

After learning that previous attempts to sustain a school pantry had failed, Yvonne decided to remain at Capital post-graduation to ensure the survival of the program. Fortunately, a fellow classmate Kerry-Ann Campbell-Barrett stepped up to assume the role. Originally from Jamaica, Kerry-Ann viewed America as a “land of opportunity.” After volunteering with a local pantry (a Foodshare partner) she was shocked to learn that many Americans struggle with putting food on the table. Recognizing the harsh realities of life for so many of her new friends and neighbors, Kerry-Ann wanted to do more.


Kerry-Ann and Yvonne both agree that the next step is connecting pantry visitors, with additional resources. Hartford Rescue Mission is only a few blocks away, serving meals when the pantry is closed. There are Mobile Foodshare sites located within a few miles, providing fresh foods at no cost to those in need. And they hope that a partnership with Foodshare’s SNAP outreach team will soon connect many more students with stable support while they work towards a college degree.

Now that Yvonne has found other like-minded individuals who are capable of carrying on the legacy that she started, she feels confident pursuing her own future as a Social Worker.

• The CCC pantry is open Mondays and Fridays from 10am-2pm. For more information contact Derrick Curry, Director of Student Activities, at (860) 906-5087. 
• For more information about the Hartford Rescue Mission, visit www.hartfordrescuemission.com.
• For more information about Mobile Foodshare, visit site.foodshare.org/mobile.

Capital City YouthBuild with AmeriCorps

Are you looking for a way to boost your resume or obtain paid job training? Are you between the ages of 18 and 24? 

The Community Renewal Team (CRT) Capital City YouthBuild Americorps program could be the perfect fit.
 
Capital City YouthBuild helps selected participants develop the skills to complete their GED and pursue a career in Construction or as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)! If they already have their high school diploma, the training allows them to quickly transition to employment or further their education. Members of the program are eligible to receive their OSHA-10 certificate, Home Builders Institute (HBI) PACT certification, CPR, CNA and/or ServSafe certification. A stipend and incentives are provided.

Carissa is an AmeriCorps volunteer currently working with Foodshare's Communications team. She had this to share about the benefits of the program:

"Americorps programs have a history of improving our communities and providing individuals with the necessary skills to advance in their careers. One of the best things about being a part of Americorps VISTA is the educational opportunities that allow me to learn hands-on. Based on what I know about CRT Capital City YouthBuild, it's an excellent opportunity to network, gain knowledge, and apply lessons in the real world, all while making money!"

If you know anyone interested, applications can be picked up at CRT Youth Artisan & Technology (YAT) ​Center located at 1443 Main Street in Hartford. If additional information is needed, please feel free to contact Cynthia Baisden via email at baisdenc@crtct.org.

Capital City YouthBuild Seek Hartford Youth

The Capital City YouthBuild program, is currently seeking young people between the ages of 18-24 for their Construction and CNA programs. Participants will receive free classroom and work-site training. Applicants must be a Hartford resident, and will be accepted with or without a high school diploma.Contact Cynthia Baisden with any questions.

Click on flyer for more details

New Britain City and Schools Face Hunger

Despite New Britain schools entering their second year providing free breakfasts and lunches to all students, many families with young children are still food poor and must often make difficult choices on what types of food to eat.

Twenty-three percent of city residents, 16,441 people, live below the poverty level. More than 300 students are identified as homeless. In addition, 65% of the district’s 10,000 students are on SNAP (food stamps).

To address these poverty and hunger issues, the city, schools and nonprofits have teamed up to provide food resources, whereby any student from any city school can walk in and get a meal; and offering breakfast and lunch at many sites in the summer when school is out. Beginning next month, a newly designed $100,000 food truck will deliver free food to areas in the city deemed to have the most residents in need. 

Source: New Britain Herald, 10/28/16, Hunger in New Britain