19/Jan/16 / 17:40

Bigelow Tea Community Challenge
Supports Connecticut Food Bank

Funds Raised at Popular Event Will Help
Hungry People in the Community

 

WALLINGFORD, CONN., January 19, 2016 – Proceeds from the annual Bigelow Tea Community Challenge help the Connecticut Food Bank fulfill its mission to provide nutritious food to people in need.

 

The Connecticut Food Bank received an $8,000 grant from the event, which drew more than 700 participants last September. The funds support the food bank’s hunger relief work, providing food to partner programs like community-based food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and adult and child day programs, as well as through the Connecticut Food Bank Mobile Pantry, GROW Truck and Kids’ BackPack programs.

 

“Energizing so many people around this event each year, Bigelow Tea is making a real difference in the community,” said Connecticut Food Bank Interim CEO Paul O’Leary. “This donation will leverage enough food to provide 16,000 meals to hungry people in Connecticut.”

 

The Connecticut Food Bank is the state’s non-profit leader in the fight against hunger and the largest provider of charitable food donations. Last year, the Connecticut Food Bank distributed enough food to prepare more than 18 million meals. “Support from partners like Bigelow Tea helps us provide food to more than 300,000 people in six Connecticut Counties,” O’Leary said.

 

The Bigelow Tea Community Challenge is a yearly event that has raised more than $1.2 million since its inception in 1988 – 100% of which gets distributed to local charities. The Connecticut Food Bank has received donations from event proceeds in past years, O’Leary said. “We are grateful for support of our work from the Bigelow family and the community.”

 

“Hunger is something unimaginable to most, but unfortunately, not all of us,” said Cindi Bigelow, third generation President & CEO of Fairfield-based Bigelow Tea. “Need for the services that the Connecticut Food Bank provides happens for many reasons. We greatly admire the important work it does to ensure that those in our community who are less fortunate have a warm, caring place to turn to for help in providing food for themselves and their families.”

 

About the Bigelow Tea Community Challenge:

The Bigelow Tea Community Challenge, sponsored each year by the makers of “Constant Comment”® and other fine teas, raised $145k in 2015, bringing the total raised since the event’s inception to over $1.2 million dollars, 100% of which has been donated to local charities that provide members of our community with shelter, educational services, counseling, crisis management services, after-school tutoring, recreational programs and stock food pantries.

 

About Bigelow Tea:

Based in Fairfield, CT and 100% family owned, the Bigelow Tea Company pioneered the specialty tea category 70 years ago. The three-generational company employs 350 families and takes pride in its heritage and successful growth from a one-product, entrepreneurial venture into America’s leading specialty tea company.

 

About the Connecticut Food Bank:

The Connecticut Food Bank is the state’s non-profit leader in the fight against hunger and the largest provider of charitable food donations. Some 700 partners and programs depend on the Connecticut Food Bank as a lifeline to nutritious food for the communities they serve. The Connecticut Food Bank partnered last year with retailers, donors, volunteers and growers to provide enough food to prepare more than 18 million meals to more than 300,000 people across 127 cities and towns in six Connecticut counties. Visit us on the web at www.ctfoodbank.org, like us Facebook and follow @CTFoodBank on Twitter.