Last night, my husband, daughter (20 months) and I ate dinner at the soup kitchen in our town, Branford. The Community Dining Room offers lunch 6 days a week, dinner on Tuesday nights, and breakfast on Saturdays to all who need it.

The dinner is definitely 'family night,' which begins at 5 p.m. with a volunteer reading stories to children before dinner is served at 5:30. In July and August, they will have craft activities for the kids. When my daughter expressed interest in one of the dolls on the table in the reading area, the volunteer offer us the doll or any book we liked to take home (which I declined so others may take them).

About 35 people, all working-age women and children, plus a few fathers, were served dinner by warm and welcoming volunteers. The meal was hearty and delicious: chicken noodle soup with oyster crackers; water, coffe or punch; ham, mashed potatoes, and corn; cake for dessert and also those big 'fair' type pretzels if you wanted one.

After graciously serving the meal and clearing the tables, the volunteers packed up leftovers for anyone who wanted them. It was a lovely evening and we were invited to come back any Tuesday and also encouraged to come for breakfast on Saturday.

The people around the tables were families of all types and who knows what situations they are in that they need (or want) to come to a soup kitchen for a meal, but it is great that there is a homey place to get a meal for those who it.

Please note, my family will be sending a donation to Community Dining Room to cover the cost of our meals and support their work. Nancy Carrington and Rev. Dr. Stackhouse made similar donations during their Food Stamp Challenges.

This morning I had the pleasure, with CFB Programs Coordinator, Luray Bouffard, to assist Master's Manna in preparing and serving lunch to a housing complex for seniors. This week is CFB's annual "Community Service Week" where every staff members serves at one of our programs to help however we can.

In addition to a wonderful food pantry that distributes groceries to local families, the volunteers, led Master's Manna founder, Cheryl Avery, prepare and deliver lunch to 4 different senior centers each month. The food is hearty and made with much love and grace. Many of the seniors also bring their own tupperware so Cheryl and her volunteers can pack up food for the following days. It was our pleasure to serve with such wonderful people.

June 12, 2007

Day 2 of the challenge for me, and for my co-worker Luray Bouffard, CFB Programs Coodinator. We were discussing our shopping strategies yesterday and Luray told me that food stamps can't be used to purchase prepared food, such as fast food, deli meats and salads, or roasted chickens like the one I bought for dinner last night and tonight.

So to be technical, I did not eat the chicken last night, so in fact I am under my $25 allotment for the week by about $1.50. We'll see if I will need that toward the end of the week. I will probably buy some more apples, as I am seriously lacking healthy snacks to fill in between meals.

Yesterday I had my vegetable soup for lunch, which tasted good, but only filled me for about 2 hours. By 2:30 I was definitely hungry again, so I made one of the Top Ramen packages. This was a staple of mine during college since it was so cheap, but now that, as an adult, I am trying to eat better, I am cognizant of how much fat and sodium are in these prepared foods. But when money is tight, cheap food trumps nutrition every time.

So last night I watched my husband and daughter eat the chicken, rice and vegetable dinner I had planned while I ate scrambed eggs, zucchini and cheese burritos. I eat this often for lunch or dinner and so did not feel deprived but I'm not really looking forward to eating it again for dinner tonight. I am used to variety and eating on whim, and when I have to budget and plan, that is another luxury that I have to do without.

June 11, 2007

I began CFB's Food Bank Challenge today and I'm already feeling a little panicky. I am a definite 'foodie' - I love to shop for food, cook food, read food magazines and talk about food. Most of my career has been focussed around food. So now I can only seem to think about what I can't eat because I have allocated my $25 for 5 days of meals and there isn't anything left over for 'frivolous' treats.

I had my usual cereal and skim milk for breakfast, but I had to skip the fresh strawberries, which is a shame since not only do they taste good, but they provide a lot of fiber and antioxidants. Usually about this time (10 a.m.) I have a snack of almonds and dried cranberries, which combines protein and a serving of fruit. That would normally tide me over until lunchtime but I already hear my stomach growling.

Shopping last night for the week's worth of food for myself was a challenge. It's not that I don't usually pay attention to the price of food but I usually indulge what I'm in the mood for, especially when it comes to fresh fruit. While health experts extol us to 'eat 5 a day' and 'eat the rainbow' of colors, that's nearly impossible when you don't have much money - I couldn't buy the tempting cherries, grapes, melon, pineapple, or peaches and nectarines. I stuck with gala apples ($1.49/lb) which still seems very expensive.

The biggest damage to my $25 budget was buillion cubes, which put me over by about $1.50. I thought since I couldn't afford a lot of fruit, I would make a vegetable soup from scratch that could last 3 or 4 days. I bought whole carrots (not the pre-peeled, pre-cut kind), zucchini, cabbage, and some other vegetables, and used half of each for the soup, keeping the other half to have as snacks or with dinners. But since canned chicken stock is so expense and I don't have time to make my own, I thought I'd save money by using buillon cubes and tap water. Well, the cubes cost $2.49! My husband asked what people who couldn't afford these would do for their soup, and my answer was, I guess they would just use water.

That thought made me very guilty about every little thing I take for granted in my life.

Stay tuned all week for more about my Food Stamp Challenge and others' here at the food bank.

June 4 - 8, 2007

June 8, 2007

Last night, I had the pleasure of accepting a 2007 Gold Mercury Award from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) for CT Food Bank's 2005-2006 Annual Report, Alleviating Hunger, One Day at a Time.

It wasn't just great to be recognized for the hard, and beautiful, work that went into the annual report (designed by our friends at Caserta Design), it was also wonderful to see how much great work is done for non-profits throughout the state.

Many of the awards presented by PRSA were given to work performed by, or on behalf of, charities. Every recipient spoke about how great and fulfilling it was to work on things that helped improve the lives of others, whether it was to educate the public about a worthy cause, encourage donations, or help feed people in need.

June 7, 2007

Guest Blogger: Sherry Grant, Programs Coordinator

On Tuesday June 5th, National Hunger Awareness Day, CT Food Bank in cooperation with United Way of Greater Waterbury held a “Food for Thought” forum. Several emergency food pantries, safe homes and shelters were represented as well as Shop Rite in Waterbury, whose owner Paul Tornaquindici supports emergency food assistance programs in many ways.

Forum participants viewed a Public Service Announcement developed by Paul about the problem of hunger in Waterbury. Featuring Ryan Gomes, a former Waterbury resident and an NBA player for the Celtics, the PSA will air on television in the near future.

In addition, we had an opportunity to discuss how to give people in need better access to emergency food resources. In particular, we raised the idea of converting traditional pre-bagged pantries to “Client Choice.” CT Food Bank supports this model and will begin encouraging all pantries to make the switch. “Client Choice” pantries preserve dignity, respect individuality, and give clients the feeling that they still have some control in their life.

CT Food Bank provided lunch, which was followed by the monthly Food Resource Committee meeting. The Food Resource Committee is comprised of emergency feeding programs and other human service agencies that wish to meet the needs of their community. Believe or not, the main item on the agenda was Thanksgiving Distribution! Several large emergency food assistance programs are going to join together to distribute from a central location and provide “Client Choice” instead of preparing a traditional box or basket. It has taken, and will continue to take, many hours of planning to implement. CT Food Bank applauds this innovative plan.

I believe that it truly was a thought-provoking day.

June 6, 2007

Connecticut Food Bank invites you to take the Food Stamp Challenge - for a day, a week or a month. Like similar 'challenges' happening around the country, we hope to raise awareness about the problem of hunger in our community and the inadequate funding given to the Food Stamp Program and other federal nutrition programs.

Learn more about the Food Stamp Challenge, and read participants' journals, at www.ctfoodbank.org/FoodStampChallenge.

May 21 - 25, 2007

May 25, 2007

The House and Senate both passed a $120 billion war bill that the President is expected to sign. In addition to funding the war in Iraq through September, the bill also includes the first increase in the federal minimum wage since 1997, bringing it up $2.10 an hour to $7.25.

While many states have minimum wages higher than even the proposed federal wage (including Connecticut at $7.65 an hour), this increase covers millions of working Americans struggling to pay for life's necessities - food, shelter and clothing - for themselves and their families.

For more about the bill, click here.

May 23, 2007

As children, we are taught that "words can never hurt me," but that's not true. Words can be powerful - they can inspire and change minds, but they can also discourage and hurt feelings.

There was an interesting USA Today article on Monday about the use of the word 'poverty' in the upcoming 2008 election. According to Douglas Palmer, mayor of Trenton, N.J., and president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, "Words such as unemployment, hunger or homelessness often were used in place of poverty, but not anymore," he says. "Let's not mince words. It's poverty."

It reminds me of the end of last year, when the USDA released its annual report on household food security and eliminated the word "hunger" from its classifications. This angered hunger-relief workers and advocates. Vicki Escarra, President of America's Second Harvest, said it best: "Referring to the state in which individuals and families do not have access to adequate food as anything other than hunger is simply demeaning."

Words have meaning and power. We need to at least use the right words to talk about the problem if we have any hope of finding a solution.

May 22, 2007

Today is "Anti-Hunger Call-in Day," encouraged by the Food Research and Action Center, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and America’s Second Harvest — The Nation’s Food Bank Network.

Call your U.S. Representative and Senators to urge support of the McGovern/Emerson "Feeding America’s Families Act" (H.R. 2129) and build momentum for 2007 Farm Bill investments that strengthen the Food Stamp and emergency feeding programs.

Congressional action on the 2007 Farm Bill is beginning in May, with at least one House Agriculture Subcommittee taking up its portion of the bill before the Memorial Day recess. Full House and Senate Agriculture Committee mark ups are slated for June. It is critically important to communicate with Members of Congress prior to the committee actions.

For more information about Farm Bill legislation, click here.

If you don't know who your legislators are, click here.

May 14 - 18, 2007

May 17, 2007

Tonight is the Award's Ceremony for the 6th annual CANstruction design competition. If you've never seen any of these structures, made entirely of cans and boxes of food, you should check them out at the CT Convention Center in Hartford. They'll be on display until May 25 and then the food will be donated to CT Food Bank and other local hunger-relief organizations.

Last year I had the pleasure of going to one of the schools after the end of the competition, Bielefield Elementary in Middletown, to watch as the kids were told that their entry had won the international prize for Best Meal (meaning the food they used in their structure made the most nutritious meal once they were dismantled).

The kids, ages 7 through 11, were so excited to win, but also, talking to them, they were very happy to have provided food to other kids in need. Also, by working hand-in-hand with local architects, it introduced many of them to the idea of architecture as something more than a building they drive by.

We congratulate all the design teams at this year's event. They are all winners!

May 16, 2007

Today, Brandman's Paint and Decorating Centers, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, will donate 100 cases of food to CT Food Bank in East Haven.

Earlier this year, an employee of Brandman's, Angelo Melisi, wrote an essay about why Connecticut Food Bank deserved to be a recipient of a donation by Brandman's and his essay was selected as a winner! Brandman's is donating 50 cases of peanut butter and 50 cases of tuna fish to help us fight hunger in our communities.

We are grateful to Brandman's for this wonderful donation and for Angelo for nominating us. And if Angelo's name sounds familiar, it's because he also came in 3rd place for Individual Fundraising at the New Haven Walk Against Hunger where he raised $1,580! Thank you Angelo, and Brandman's!!

May 14, 2007

The National Association of Letter Carrier's (NALC) food drive was on Saturday, and while we don't know the total amount of food collected yet, we are sure it was great success, just as in year's past.

On Friday, Branch 19 of the local NALC held a kick-off for the food drive on the Branford Green and I was honored to meet many of the women and men responsible for organizing the food drive in the greater New Haven area. Vicki Gaudio, along with many others, has dedicated many of her off-duty hours to the food drive for many years. In fact, in 2004, Vicki and her colleagues were honored by CT Food Bank for their efforts with a Partnership Award at our annual luncheon.

Thanks to all the residents who donated food on Saturday and the men and women of the NALC for their hard work getting the food to food banks and local hunger-relief organizations.

May 7 - 11, 2007

May 11, 2007

On June 5, food banks and hunger-relief supporters across the country will mark Hunger Awareness Day. Locally, CT Food Bank and food-assistance programs will host events and other awareness-raising activities, so check back here for details.

Nationally, the 2nd annual "Interfaith Convocation on Hunger" will assemble one of the largest gatherings of anti-hunger and anti-poverty activists in Washington in decades. Hundreds of leaders from major faith traditions will join representatives of the millions of volunteers who fight hunger in this country and worldwide. National leaders of Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and other faith groups will call on the president and Congress to join us in renewing our national commitment to end hunger.

The "Interfaith Convocation on Hunger" will take place at the Washington National Cathedral on June 11, 2007. At 6 p.m., people will gather on the Great Lawn, and the Convocation will begin at 6:30.

For details about the event, click here. For more about Hunger Awareness Day, visit www.hungerday.org.

May 10, 2007

This came from David O'Sullivan at Community Soup Kitchen. What better way to honor the mother's of the world?

The Great Silent Grandmother Gathering

The women of Ohio call upon the women of the world, from day-old babies to our most senior elders, to stand with us on Sunday, May 13, 2007, to save the world. Our project is based on Sharon Mehdi's book The Great Silent Grandmother Gatherinng. If you don't know the www.standingwomen.org.

We will be standing for the world's children and grandchildren, and for the seven generations beyond them. We dream of a world where all of our children have safe drinking water, clean air too, and enough food to eat. A world where they have access to a basic education to develop their minds and healthcare to nurture their growing bodies. A world where they have a warm, safe, and loving place to call home. A world where they don't live in fear of violence--in their home, in their neighborhood, in their school, or in their world. This is the world of which we dream. This is the cause for which we will stand.

If you share this dream, please stand with us for five minutes of silence at 1 p.m. your local time on May 13, 2007, in your local park, school yard, gathering place, or any place you deem appropriate, to signify your agreement with this statement. We ask you to invite the men and boys who you care about to join you. We ask that you bring bells to ring at 1 p.m. to signify the beginning of the five minutes of silence and to ring again to signify the end of the period of silence. During the silence, please think about what you individually and we collectively can do to attain this world. If you need to sit rather than stand, please feel free to do so. Afterwards, hopefully you and your loved ones can talk together about how we can bring about this world.

See www.standingwomen.org for more details and to register your commitment to stand with us. The website is in 15 languages and links to a YouTube video. We hope to see a 24-hour wave of women and men all over the globe standing to save the world.

May 9, 2007

Do you know a kid who's helped fight hunger in his or her community? Maybe they raised money for the Walk Against Hunger. Or collected food for a food drive. Or donated their piggy bank money to the food bank.

If so, ShopRite's "Partners in Caring" and General Mills want to know about this special kid. Parents, teachers and the general community can nominate kids by writing an essay (300 words or less) about them. Winners will receive 2,500 bonus Box Tops for their schools, a $500 donation to the hunger-relief organization of their choice, and can appear on a limited edition Cheerios box this fall.

We know how many community-minded kids there are out there, so nominate one that you know. The deadline is June 15. Visit www.ShopRitePartnersinCaring.org for details!

May 8, 2007

Whew! Another weekend, another fabulous Walk Against Hunger. The chilly weather didn't keep anyone away or dampen the spirits of nearly 500 people who gathered at East Rock Park in New Haven for the 31st annual Walk. For a recap of the event, including photos, click here. Thanks to everyone who supported this wonderful event!

Now that we are in "after Walk" mode, things aren't slowing down. This Friday is the build out of the 6th annual CANstruction creations at the CT Convention Center, which is always a fun event.

And on Saturday is the annual food drive hosted by the National Association of Letter Carriers. Be sure to leave a bag of non-perishable food items at your mailbox before your letter carrier arrives, and he/she will make sure it's delivered to CT Food Bank or a local food-assistance program. Surely this is one of the easiest ways to donate food to others!

April 30 - May 4, 2007

May 4, 2007

This weekend's weather is supposed to be clear, sunny and gorgeous so join us for the party in East Rock Park and the 31st annual Walk Against Hunger in New Haven. Each year, the event is so much fun, so bring the kids, dog and plenty of sunscreen and help us raise money for and awareness about the fight against hunger! Click here for details.

May 3, 2007

The results are in from last Sunday's Walk Against Hunger in Waterbury and not only did everyone there have fun, they raised an astonishing amount of money: $38,772!

These funds were from the combined efforts of nearly 400 walkers, sponsors, donors, and volunteers. That is almost $9,000 more than was raised last year, and by the enthusiasm of the crowd at the park, each year will only get better and better.

For a recap of the Waterbury event and photos, click here.

This weekend's weather is predicted to be picture perfect, so please join us for the New Haven event this Sunday. Click here for details.

May 2, 2007

Want an easy and fun (and free!) way to donate a meal to hunger relief? Think of a time that you or someone you know has shared something with another person - think sharing time, energy, laughter, a good meal - and post your story on www.SpreadTheSharing.com.

For every story shared on the website, Country Crock will donate a meal to America's Second Harvest, the nation's food bank network. They've already donated a million meals and hope, with this effort, to donate another million by this Thanksgiving.

With all the bad stories in the news, it's refreshing to read about all the sharing people do on a regular basis. Check it out!

May 1, 2007

We are regrouping from a fabulous and successful Walk Against Hunger in Waterbury on Sunday, and preparing for the New Haven event this Sunday, May 6.

In the meantime, I read a very interesting article by Michael Pollan in the New York Times titled "You Are What You Grow," about the Farm Bill and why it's important, not just for farmers and the food industry but for everyone who has ever eaten a meal. Read the article here (PDF will open).

April 23 - 27, 2007

April 27, 2007

Last minute preparations are underway for the 2nd annual Walk Against Hunger in Waterbury this Sunday! Prizes are ready, boxes are packed and we're loading up the trucks. There's still time to register online or just come on out on Sunday. Click here for details and we'll see you there for another great Walk!

April 26, 2007

Wow! Thank you to everyone who made last night's Taste of the Nation in New Haven a success. We don't know yet how much money was raised but it was well attended and people were generously bidding on auction items to help raise even more for the fight against hunger.

Thank you also to Chabaso Bakery (who gave away delicious loaves of bread to attendees) for giving CT Food Bank all the extra loaves to distribute today to food programs, and thank you to the other food vendors for donating their remaining unserved food to Columbus House. This is truly putting your food where your mouth is to help others.

April 25, 2007

Tonight is one of our favorite events: New Haven's "Taste of the Nation," sponsored by Share Our Strength.

This yearly fundraiser gathers the area's best restaurants in one location and invites them to put their "best fork forward" to help raise money for local, national and international hunger-relief efforts. Each restaurant offers a taste of their best dish, while local wine and spirit merchants offer samplings of wine, beer and cocktails. There is a competition for best dish of the night, with one of the judges CFB's own Executive Director Nancy Carrington.

Tonight's event is held at the Omni Hotel in downtown New Haven (with free parking at the Temple Street Garage!). Click here for details.

We are truly grateful to the all-volunteer committee who puts on this extensive event, all the chefs, restuarant and merchant staff, and everyone who has donated time, effort and prizes to make tonight come together.

Tickets are still available at the door, so please join us tonight!

April 24, 2007

On Sunday, at CFB's Waterbury Walk Against Hunger, we are thrilled to have Ryan Gomes, a Waterbury native and player for the Boston Celtics, participate as a member of the General Mills/ShopRite of Waterbury Walk Team.

I had the pleasure of meeting Ryan this past Christmas Eve, when he helped serve lunch at St. Vincent de Paul's soup kitchen in Waterbury, and donated funds to CT Food Bank (his donation was matched by ShopRite). Ryan's concern for others is truly heartfelt. He is so thankful to the community that supported him growing up and it shows in his sincerity of giving back.

If you'd like to meet this inspiring and talented young man, please join us on Sunday. If you can't make it, but would like to donate to the Walk (and you can designate your donation to a specific team, such as the General Mill/ShopRite team), click here.

April 16 - 20, 2007

April 20, 2007

CFB's Development Department, along with the Operations Department, is in full "Walk Against Hunger" mode - finalizing preparations for the Waterbury Walk on April 29, and the New Haven Walk on May 6.

We are buoyed by so much support from the community. New Haven's event has been going strong for 31 years, and it's wonderful to see the support pouring in from the greater Waterbury area as well, as this is just the second year of that Walk.

We are excited to have the mayors of both cities at the respective Walks, and in Waterbury, we will be joined by Boston Celtics player, and Waterbury native, Ryan Gomes, who is part of the General Mills/ShopRite of Waterbury team.

There's still plenty of time to register for either Walk. Click here for details on registering in person at the event, or on-line.

April 19, 2007

With hurricane season on the horizon (June through November), CFB management is diligently working on our Disaster Response Plan. With so many unknown variables to try to plan for, it's an arduous process but definitely worth it.

As important as it is for businesses to plan a response to a disaster (whether natural or man-made) it is equally vital for every individual and family to have a plan in place. We are urging our staff and every member of the general public to take a few minutes and plan for a disaster. The Red Cross has excellent resources for quickly and easily planning for a variety of situations to keep your family as safe as possible.

Please take a few moments to get informed and be prepared!

April 17, 2007

Our hearts and thoughts are with the Virginia Tech victims, families and community.

April 16, 2007

Last week I attended a workshop about website and marketing held exclusively for non-profits. It was wonderful to meet people from such a diversity of non-profits: counselors for domestic violence victims, advocates for peace, after school programs for kids, resources for other businesses, and many others.

There is even a non-profit dedicated to helping and promoting non-profits in Connecticut, the CT Association of Non-Profits, whose mission is "to support and strengthen nonprofit organizations in building and sustaining healthy communities in Connecticut."

There are more non-profits in Connecticut (and the country and world) than you could shake the proverbial stick at. Everything from huge national and international organizations (like the American Cancer Society) to state specific non-profits (such as CT Food Bank) to small ones (such as Arts on the Line, dedicated to nurturing strong arts communities in service of stronger general communities).

Working in the non-profit sector has its strengths and drawbacks, as does the for-profit sector. What is unfortunate, however, is how non-profits aren't always viewed seriously as a career path. One colleague here attended a career fair for middle schoolers, many of whom questioned why she would want to work for a non-profit.

So much good is done in the world through non-profits by individuals dedicated to their jobs and their causes. Let's hope future generations realize the value of giving their time and talent - whether as a career choice or as a volunteer - to helping make the world a better place for others.

April 9 - 13, 2007

April 12, 2007

Guest Blogger: Sherry Grant, CFB Programs Coordinator

Yesterday, Stefanie Stevens, CFB's Special Events Coordinator, and I were invited to a breakfast at the ShopRite in Waterbury on Wolcott St. to kick off their "Hearts and Hands" fundraising campaign for the "Partners In Caring" program. This program was created by ShopRite supermarkets to fight hunger in their communities. The Waterbury store is an active participant in "Partners in Caring" and the fight against hunger. A representative from General Mills was present as were many of the community service programs that provide hunger relief for residents in Waterbury.

This was the first time that I had the opportunity to meet the owner of the Waterbury store, Paul Tornaquindici, and I am truly impressed by his commitment to the community. His faith in God is the driving force in his life and he shared some very inspirational thoughts with the group. He will not turn his back on people in need; however, he clearly reinforced the importance of partnership and applauded the efforts of all who provide direct service.

This store offers many programs that are not offered by other ShopRite stores such as free babysitting in a clean and safe environment to all families who shop. They try to focus on educational activities, homework help, and they even have three computers available; a woman who was at the breakfast said that she absolutely loves this service.

In addition, they have a Literacy Club where literacy volunteers work with adults to practice English communication skills, shopping, money management, etc. They also provide school supplies for children each year. You can even a host a children’s party where a skilled Chef instructor will help kids complete a meal of kid favorite dishes, a nice alternative to McDonald’s or bowling.

In addition, Cathy McKenna, the Community Liaison for the store, attends the monthly Waterbury Food Resource Committee Meetings where emergency feeding programs get together to discuss how to most effectively meet the needs to the community.

The Waterbury ShopRite is the little store that “CAN” and will survive and succeed.

April 11, 2007

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending the monthly meeting of the Emergency Food Council of Greater New Haven. This council is made up of representatives from the larger emergency food programs in the area including Branford Food Council, Christian Community Action, Community Soup Kitchen, Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen and East Haven Food Pantry.

The council discusses important issues facing food-assistance programs, shares resources and looks for ways to improve services and awareness about their services.

They also report how operations are going at their respective programs, including how many families and individuals they are serving. The numbers are startling: In the month of March, Christian Community Action, which is located in New Haven's Hill neighborhood, provided groceries from their Food Pantry to roughly 700 individuals and families. That is 700 different people in one month!

In the first 3 months of 2007, Community Soup Kitchen served 14,500 meals; Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen served 13,000 meals during that time. These numbers are all increases over the previous three months. Branford Food Council and East Haven Food Pantry reported similar increases in food distribution.

While it was hard to pinpoint one cause of this increase, the program representatives attributed it to new people moving into the New Haven area, increasing numbers of working poor families, and unemployment.

We applaud the work of the council, and similiar ones in other metropolitan areas. Not only do they perform the day-to-day work of serving our most vulnerable citizens, they also look at the bigger issues and try to plan for the future.

April 9, 2007

On March 28, Congressman James P. McGovern (D-Mass), a staunch advocate of anti-hunger issues, set forth House Resolution 275 on the Fiscal Year 2008 budget.

Congressman McGovern spoke elegantly about the moral, fiscal and social responsibilities of funding anti-hunger programs, including a challenge to combat and end hunger in America.

The budget resolution he is supporting includes a $20 billion reserve fund for the Farm Bill and calls to reject "arbitrary eligibility cuts to Food Stamps and the elimination of the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. [This] not only makes a strong statement on the need to combat hunger in America, it actually takes concrete steps to do so."

To read Congressman McGovern's full statement, click here.

April 2 - 6, 2007

April 6, 2007

America's Second Harvest (A2H) reports that the School Breakfast Program and the Food Stamp Program are currently the fastest growing federal food-assistance programs.

According to A2H:

• Over 84,000 schools and residential child care institutions operated the School Breakfast Program, an increase of 1,200 schools and institutions from the previous fiscal year
• Each school day, an average 9.8 million children participated in the program, an increase of 4% from the previous fiscal year
• Nearly 23% of all children attending a school or child care institution participating in the School Breakfast Program took part in the program
• A total of $2 billion was spent on the School Breakfast Program, an increase of five percent from the previous fiscal year
• 1.7 billion breakfasts were served, an increase of 3% from the previous fiscal year
• 72% of breakfasts were provided free to students and another 9% were provided at a reduced price

The good news of more kids eating breakfast in the morning is tempered by the knowledge that in another six weeks, those same kids will not have a free or reduced-price breakfast, or lunch, to eat because school will be out for the summer.

Every year, kids and their families who rely on schools to provide breakfast and lunch must find an alternative. Many turn to food pantries and soup kitchens during the summer, which unfortunately are usually down in donations at the same time.

This is one of the reasons CFB continues to ask for donations of food and funds during the summer when people's thoughts turn to vacations, the beach, and fun holidays, rather than kids going without meals. To find out how you can donate food to CFB, click here. To donate funds, click here.

April 5, 2007

This morning, CFB's Executive Director, Nancy Carrington, was honored by New Haven Business Times as one of "Twenty Noteworthy Women" for her 20+ years of service to Connecticut Food Bank and the community.

Nancy Carrington joined CFB in 1984 as a food solicitor, procuring product donations from food industry companies and manufacturers. In 1989, she was promoted to executive director. Over the years, Nancy has been recognized and honored by several organizations, including the Connecticut Public Health Association and Interfaith Cooperative Ministries, for her leadership of CFB.

In addition to her work with CFB, Nancy serves on the board of directors for End Hunger Connecticut!, is active in her church, delivers food for FISH of Greater New Haven and is a school volunteer reader.

We congratulate Nancy on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to her continued leadership of Connecticut Food Bank. For more on Nancy and the history of CFB, click here.

April 3, 2007

From our partners at End Hunger, Connecticut!:

Wednesday, April 4th is State EITC Advocacy Day. 10:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M. Room 1D, Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

Join us at 10 a.m. in Room 1D to hear from Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney and others, and receive instructions and materials for legislative meetings.

If you haven't already, please email Shai Cassell, Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity & Justice at shaileen@sbcglobal.net or call her at 860-930- 4278 and let her know if you plan to attend.

The Earned Income Tax Credit is a time tested and effective federal credit that puts money back in the hands of low-income families who earned it through employment. Additionally, the monies often go right back into the community of origin. It helps families close the gap between what they earn and what they need to make ends meet in this state with high housing and living expenses.

Connecticut does not have a statewide credit to mirror the federal program. If the state EITC was passed families could use the credit to pay off debt, buy inexpensive but necessary cars for transportation to work and school, buy basic necessities, pay for education or save for a rainy day. It’s time to pass the Connecticut EITC – join us on Wednesday and put food on people’s tables!

This event is coordinated by Connecticut Association for Human Services and Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice.

April 2, 2007

Spring is here and hopefully we can finally put away the snow shovels. And with the arrival of spring, thoughts turn to the outdoors, and for many people that means preparing their gardens for the growing season.

One of my favorite new programs here at Connecticut Food Bank is the Plant A Row for the Hungry campaign, which began in earnest last year after lying dormant for many years. Thanks to volunteer Marilyn Wilkes, Plant A Row collected one ton of fresh produce last year from home and community gardeners, and farmers' markets in the New Haven area.

While this amount of produce is a small part of the 16 million pounds of food that is acquired and distributed by CFB each year, I think the program is important as an awareness tool, in addition to acquiring food. Many people think that they can't contribute to the overwhelming problem of hunger in our communities, but through Plant A Row, gardeners can see their handiwork going directly to people in need of food, and especially in need of fresh, nutritious produce.

An avid gardener herself, Marilyn has dedicated many hours of her time (in addition to a demanding full-time job) to Plant A Row and Connecticut Food Bank. Without her efforts, we certainly would not be able to run and promote this important program.

For more information about Plant a Row for the Hungry, and how to get a free packet of vegetable seeds for your garden, click here.

March 26 - 30, 2007

March 29, 2007

While CFB is busy all year round accepting donations of food and distributing them to food-assistance programs, the Development Department is busiest twice a year: around Thanksgiving and now.

The next six weeks are filled with numerous events and fundraisers designed to raise money for the fight against hunger as well as awareness about the problem and how people can get involved to help. April 7 is the kick-off for this year's Plant A Row for the Hungry campaign (more to come on that next week).

On April 25 is the New Haven Taste of the Nation, where local restaurants offer samples of their fine cuisine to help raise money for CFB and other hunger-relief efforts.

The Walk Against Hunger events take place in Waterbury on April 29 and New Haven on May 6.

The annual CANstruction design event (where schoolchildren and architects build structures out of cans and boxes of food) takes place from May 11 to 25; and the nation's largest food drive, the National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive, happens on Saturday, May 12.

Please join us for one or more of these events. Get involved and have fun!

March 28, 2007

This Friday, CFB staff has the pleasure of helping to open a new Bruegger's in Wallingford. The grand opening at 10 a.m. is free to the public and a portion of the day's proceeds will be donated to CFB's hunger-relief efforts.

Bruegger's is a big supporter of CFB's mission to alleviate hunger in our communities - from the company's CEO, James J. Greco, serving on CFB's Board of Directors to the company sponsoring the 2007 Walk Against Hunger (and providing treats for walkers in both New Haven and Waterbury).

Please join us on Friday to launch another great Bruegger's location and to support the fight against hunger.

March 19 - 23, 2007

March 23, 2007

From our partners at America's Second Harvest:

Each year the Congress issues a Budget Resolution, which is a nonbinding legislative vehicle that serves as the "blueprint" for guiding Congressional legislation. The Senate Budget Committee approved a Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Resolution this week and the House Budget Committee is expected to approve its own version today. After committee approval, the Budget Resolutions go to a full Senate and House vote respectively.

The Senate Budget Committee version provides $15 billion in new mandatory spending for agriculture. The House Budget Committee version is includes $20 billion in new mandatory spending for agriculture. The funding level set by Congress in the Budget Resolution will dictate how much money the agriculture Committees will be able to spend on the new five-year Farm Bill. Both of the figures proposed are inadequate levels of funding for the Farm Bill.

Please visit the Hunger Action Center today and let your Members of Congress know how critical adequate funding is for the nutrition title in the Farm Bill is for your local food bank and the people they serve.

March 22, 2007

Another great corporate partner for CFB is Ocean State Job Lot. Like the CT Credit Union Association, they collect monetary donation and the purchase food to donate to the food bank. At local Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL) stores, customers and employees make donations, which are then matched by the company in order to leverage an even bigger donation for the food bank.

This morning, Ocean State Job Lot delivery 33,857 pounds of food product to CFB East Haven warehouse. The products included canned tomatoes, tuna fish salad, rice and grains, and other staples that are much in demand by our member food programs. This is the second year that OSJL had made this kind of donation to CFB; they make similar donations to food banks throughout New England, making them a valuable partner in the fight against hunger.

March 21, 2007

CFB is fortunate to have many wonderful supporters in the business world - companies who believe it is part of their daily business to be good corporate partners with community service organizations.

Two new partners include CarMax, which just opened a new location across the railroad tracks from CFB's headquarters in East Haven. This Saturday, CarMax is teaming up with WYBC (a long-time CFB supporter) to host a food drive for CFB. We hope this is the first of many activities with CarMax, because while CFB serves six of the state's eight counties, it's also nice to do something right here in the community where we are based.

We've also been fortunate to make contact with a new magazine debuting in June, Verdant Hills, which will focus on serving the residents and businesses of Western Connecticut (including the towns of Middlebury, Monroe, Newtown, Oxford, Southbury and Watertown and Woodbury). The publisher, Bob Bruno, is very interested in supporting CFB's efforts and we look forward to working with him in the future.

March 19, 2007

As part of a year-long commemoration of our 25 years of service, Connecticut Food Bank is hosting an open house at each of our warehouses.

While our warehouses are open to the general public during normal business hours for information and tours, these "official" Open House will offer a more structured environment to take a peek behind the scenes of the food bank. CFB staff members will be on hand to give tours and answer questions about the history and operations of CFB, as well as give information about upcoming events such as the 2nd annual Walk Against Hunger in Waterbury.

Through these Open Houses, we hope more people will learn about the problem of hunger in their communities and what they can do to help, and then be moved to take action.

The first Open House will take place this Saturday, March 24, at our Waterbury Branch Warehouse (click here for address and directions). The Open House is from 9 am to 12 noon, and Panera Bread has graciously donated refreshments for the event.

Please join us if you can. All are welcome (kids sixteen and younger need to be accompanied by an adult). You don't have to RSVP but if you have any questions, please contact me at (203) 469-5000, ext. 309, or jdoron@ctfoodbank.org.

CFB's East Haven Warehouse Open House will be held on Wednesday, June 20, from 5 to 8 p.m.; the Fairfield Branch Open House will be held on Wednesday, October 10, from 3 to 6 p.m.

March 12 - 16, 2007

March 16, 2007

Next month, CFB's monthly E-newsletter will debut a new, fresh look. The content will remain the same: current news about CT Food Bank, upcoming events, and the latest hunger-related legislative and research news, but it will be in an easier-to-read, and quicker-to-load, format.

We began the E-newsletter in late 2004 and since then have had very positive response. It's an interesting vehicle of communication for us. It doesn't replace any of our traditional methods, such as the Connecticut Food News newsletter that is printed and mailed twice a year, or the Volunteer Voices newsletter that is printed and mailed quarterly. It has added another way to get different information (and some of the same) to people in a way that is most convenient for them.

Nowadays, most people have access to email, and they check it daily. It's become a good way for us to get timely information to people who are interested in CT Food Bank and hunger-relief issues.

IF you are interested in receiving CT Food Bank's E-newsletter, simply send me an email by clicking here.

March 14, 2007

Connecticut Food Bank welcomes Kim Damien as our new Volunteer Coordinator.

Contact Kim if you are interested in volunteering in a food bank warehouse in East Haven, Fairfield or Waterbury, or at a special event like the Walk Against Hunger. She can be reached at (203) 469-5000, ext. 311, or kdamien@ctfoodbank.org.

Give her a call, she's great to talk to!

March 13, 2007

What a great idea!

Chiquita (the banana people) has figured out a way to keep a single banana fresh longer. This means individual bananas could be sold at gas stations, coffee shops, convenience stores and other places where people grab individual servings of food to go.

Working with a product innovation company, they figured out how to regulate the air flow in boxes using special packing material so that single bananas could be shipped to these outlets and ripen slower than they normally do.

This is great for any person on the go who has the good intention of eating healthy but is faced with the usual selection of candy bars, donuts and so-called 'healthy' granola bars. What could be more convenient, and better for you, than a banana, which comes with its own handle, easy-to-open package and biodegradable container?

For the Boston Globe story about the single banana, click here.

March 12, 2007

Connecticut Food Bank's Marketing Committee (made up of staff from the Development, Programs, and Operations departments) has been 'dividing and conquering' the many events put on by local chambers of commerce.

Throughout Connecticut, local and regional chambers of commerce are thriving and it's great to see so many businesses, large and small, actively engaged in their community in so many ways.

Just since January, CFB staff have attended events hosted by chambers in the Northwest (events in Litchfield and Torrington), East Haven,Fairfield, greater Bridgeport, greater New Haven and Waterbury. Many businesses belong to both a local chamber (such as Hamden) and a regional one (the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce).

For CFB, it's great to meet so many people who are already aware of and supporting our work and also to meet new people who quickly become interested in what we do and how they can help. We are also happy to offer speakers through our Speakers Bureau so that businesses, groups and organizations can learn more about CFB and how they can help our mission to alleviate hunger.

Please check out your local and regional chambers of commerce. Each one hosts a wealth of information and has great people working to improve their community.

March 5 - 9, 2007

March 8, 2007

You are invited to participate in a discussion about the Federal Farm Bill reauthorization, which includes provisions for the Food Stamp Program, TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) and other food and nutrition programs vital to hundreds of thousands of people in Connecticut and across the country.

The meeting is called "Federal Farm Bill 2007 Reauthorization and You: Help Us Make Nutrition Program Improvements for Your Community," and is hosted by End Hunger, CT!. It will be held on Monday, March 26 from 10 a.m. to 12 Noon at 2319 Whitney Avenue in Hamden. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro is one of the confirmed panelists.

For details, click here to download a PDF of the meeting flyer.

March 7, 2007

Our online registration web page for the Walk Against Hunger is up and running. We are very exciting. Not only is this a bold step forward for CFB in terms of technology, it will also hopefully help us raise even more money for the fight against hunger in our communities. Check it out at www.ctfoodbank.org/WalkAgainstHunger.

March 5, 2007

Spring is just a few weeks away, even if there was a snow flurry or two this morning. And with spring comes the annual Walk Against Hunger, Connecticut Food Bank's biggest fundraiser of the year.

With the successful debut of a Walk in Waterbury last year, we are pleased to have two events again this year: the 2nd annual Walk Against Hunger in Waterbury on Sunday, April 29, and the 31st annual Walk Against Hunger in New Haven on Sunday, May 6. Our special thanks to Webster Bank, who again is the presenting sponsor for both Walks.

For up-to-date information on the Walks and how you can get involved by walking, sponsoring a walker, volunteering or another way, click here.

February 26 - March 2, 2007

February 29, 2007

I have a clarification to make, courtesy of a phone call from Donna Taylor, a resident of Bethany who played a very important part in the development of the original CFB "bread" logo twenty-plus years ago.

Mrs. Taylor was a neighbor of Executive Director Nancy Carrington (then CFB's Food Solicitor). After the original idea for the bread logo was created by Annette Donovan, Mrs. Taylor was asked to prepare the physical application (a 'paste-up') of the logo for use when printing letterhead, the annual report, etc. Connecticut Food Bank paid Donna $35, which she reluctantly accepted.

We extend our thanks to Mrs. Taylor for her help those many years ago, and for her continued support throughout the years.

February 28, 2007

Yesterday morning, I answered the phone here and a woman on the other end, after a few moments of trying to find the right words, said simply "I need help."

Since CFB doesn't serve individuals directly, I referred her to 211/Infoline and other community services that could help. She stayed on my mind for the rest of the day, and still is today.

It takes so much courage to ask for help and I admire that woman, and far too many people like her, who must ask for help when the situation demands it. And it makes me think of the critics of public assistance who worry about people 'taking advantage of the system.'

If these critics could answer the phone, or serve a meal at a soup kitchen, or deliver a bag of groceries to an invalid person, they would see for themselves how much courage, and pride-swallowing, it takes to ask for something as basic as food.

February 27, 2007

One of our most consistent and long-standing donors, Stop & Shop Supermarkets, has done it again. Through their annual "Food for Friends" campaign, Stop & Shop raised $57,250 for Connecticut Food Bank.

The money is raised with the tremendous help of check-out cashiers who ask customers if they'd like to donate $1 to hunger-relief efforts as they are paying for their groceries. The customer then receives a paper turkey on which to write their name and this turkey is hung on the wall of the store.

It's these two parts of the transaction that makes the fundraising so extraordinary - first, the cashier must ask for a donation, and the customer must agree to it, both purely out of the goodness of their hearts. That this happens so often, and so consistently to raise more than $57,000 in one year is amazing.

Grocery stores around the country participate in these types of fundraisers - ShopRite has "Check Out Hunger," for example. And they raise money for many different worthy causes. You often see paper balloons, hearts or other shapes decorating stores at different times; the next time you see something like this, know that the money came from other customers like you, donating just a dollar.

February 26, 2007

There are only two days left to get a free recipe book from Barilla Pasta, and have them donate $1 to hunger-relief efforts.

For the month of February, for every download of The Celebrity Pasta Lovers' Cookbook, Barilla will donate money to America's Second Harvest's national hunger-relief efforts or a local food bank that you designate.

To download, visit www.celebritypastalovers.com.

February 19-23, 2007

February 23, 2007

With many high schools out of session for the week, Connecticut Food Bank has been the beneficiary of many young volunteers. Especially in our East Haven warehouse, it's been wonderful to see so many teenagers spending time helping out with projects - sorting through donated food items and labeling unlabeled product before it is distributed to food-assistance programs.

Yesterday, a woman drove her son here to volunteer. He needed to put in hours for community service for school and she wanted to instill a sense of giving back and service in him while he was young. She set a fine example herself - rather than drive back home and return a few hours later to pick him up, the woman helped me with an office project - single-handedly folding more than 500 brochures for the upcoming Plant A Row for the Hungry kick-off in April.

We commend all the young people who volunteer for CFB and other charitable organizations, and we thank their parents and other influential adults for guiding their sense of service to others.

February 21, 2007

We are very excited to welcome some new faces to Connecticut Food Bank, all of whom will help us continue our mission to alleviate hunger.

Laura Guzman-Baco is our new Procurement & Programs Assistant, supporting both the food solicitation department and the programs/food distribution department. Phaedra Ebron is our new Child Nutrition Coordinator responsible for CFB's Kids' BackPack Program and other child-focused hunger-relief programs.

The Development Department welcomes Stefanie Stevens as Special Events Coordinator. She will handle all food drives and special event fundraisers such as the Walk Against Hunger in the spring.

We also welcome Richard Tirado to the Programs Department as the Programs Coordinator for upper Fairfield County and the Greater Bridgeport area. Rich has been with the food bank for five years, working in a variety of positions in the Operations Department. Gordon Tripp came out of retirement to join CFB as a Truck Driver and Warehouse Assistant, helping with pick-up and deliveries for the "Meat the Need" initiative.

Welcome everyone! And if you are interested in working at Connecticut Food Bank, please click here to see current job openings.

February 19, 2007

Charter Oak Center in Hartford has issued a challenge for people to learn what it is like to live on food stamps, by having them pledge to get by on $4 a day for food, roughly the amount people receive on food stamps.

There have been similiar food stamp 'challenges' around the country in the past, sometimes involving journalists or elected officials, but this is the first one I have heard of here in Connecticut. There is no greater path to understanding what another person experiences than spending a day, or week, in their shoes.

Everyone is encouraged to participate in the Food Stamp Project, which begins in March. For more information, visit www.charteroakcenter.org.

February 5-9, 2007

February 7, 2007

It's official. CFB has a new logo (at right).

With a declaration from Gov. Rell that February 6 is "Connecticut Food Bank Day," guests such as East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo, CFB's Board of Directors, reporters from local papers, and supporters and staff on hand, we launched the new logo yesterday.

Click here to read the full story of the unveiling and how the logo will be used to strengthen CFB's identity in the community and help us continue our mission of alleviating hunger.

February 5, 2007

Once again, Connecticut Food Bank has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, the highest rating they bestow on non-profits.

While fiscal responsibility is only one aspect to consider when deciding which organization (if any) to contribute to, we are proud of CFB's record of using donations as they are meant to be used: on program services. In fact, CFB devotes 94 cents from every dollar directly to program services that feed people in need. The remaining 6 cents goes toward fundraising and administrative services.

Click here to view CFB's 2005-06 Annual Report and 990.

January 29 - February 2, 2007

February 1, 2007

At the end of 2006, the Connecticut Credit Union Association's Community Foundation came to CFB's East Haven warehouse to film a public service announcement (PSA) about hunger in our communities and how credit union members are helping CFB and our member programs provide food and hope to those in need.

Nancy Carrington, CFB Executive Director, and representatives from a few of our programs, including Mike Porter from Children's Home of Cromwell and Ed White of Area Congregations Together, volunteered to be a part of the psa. They all did a great job!

Take a look at the psa for yourself by clicking here.

Note: You will need a media player to view this mpg file. Please be patient opening it - there are three PSAs so the file is quite large.

Wednesday, January 30, 2007

Next Tuesday, Feb. 6, the Development Department gets to show off eight months of hard work - unveiling our new logo to the public. This process really began three years ago when a few of us were first hired and asked what the chances were that the logo could ever be updated. It wasn't feasible then, we were told, but maybe in time for the food bank's 25th anniversary in 2007.

That seemed so far away but here we are. In June of 2006, Julie Rio, our Development Director, and I began the new logo development process in earnest, selecting How2Design in Guilford to lead us through it and design the CFB identity.

While implementing the new logo on our warehouses, vehicles, stationery, etc. will take place over the year, we officially launch the logo on Tuesday at a short ceremony at out East Haven warehouse at 10 a.m. Staff, board members, volunteers, member programs and donors invite the media and general public to join in to commemorate 25 years of fighting hunger and giving hope and looking to the next 25 years, when hopefully, our services will no longer be needed.

Tuesday, January 29, 2007

A recent study by the Connecticut Economic Resource Center reveals that despite being in one of the nation's wealthiest states, New Haven, Hartford and Bridgeport consistently appear on lists ranking the nation's poorest cities.

The study says that since 1992, more than 1,800 businesses have closed or moved out of the three cities. These cities have poverty rates ranging from 18 to 31 percent, compared with the statewide average of 7.9 percent. Unemployment rates in the three cities range between 7.7 percent and 9.7 percent. Statewide, unemployment is just under five percent.

The longer I work at CFB (nearly three years), the more I see how interconnected the problems facing the poor and working poor are - poverty, unemployment (and underemployment), lack of health care, lack of nutrition, more hurdles like lack of transportation or realistic child care options, and the list goes on.

It doesn't matter if Connecticut is one of the wealthiest states in the nation; if you personally don't have a job, health care or food to eat every day, there is nothing wealthy about it.

January 22-26, 2007

Friday, January 26, 2007

While Connecticut Food Bank commemorates 25 years of serving the community in 2007, one of our member programs, Sterling House Community Center in Stratford, is marking its 75th anniversary. That is quite a history!

The mission of the Sterling House Community Center is to foster the physical, social, emotional, artistic and intellectual growth of the residents of Stratford and surrounding areas. Their services include a food pantry, which receives much of its grocery products from Connecticut Food Bank's Fairfield location.

Throughout 2007, Sterling House will host a number of activities for the community including a Gala Celebration, Holiday House Tour, and renovation of the first floor of their Victorian house/community center. For more information about Sterling House, visit www.sterlinghousecc.org.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

It's always a bit odd to talk about 'foodie' things like new recipes or a wonderful restaurant, and in the next breath talk about helping others who don't have enough to eat every day. But when I think about it further, it makes a lot of sense. Chefs, home cooks, and other 'foodies' enjoy food as a hobby (and often a passion) and are sometimes the most determined to make sure others have the basics of food on the table.

So many events and fundraisers revolve around food, such as the Taste of the Nation culinary events that happen around the country (and in Stamford and New Haven in the spring). It may seem odd to raise money while treating yourself to high-end food and wine, but these kind of events are some of the most successful at raising funds for, and awareness about, the fight against hunger.

One new 'foodie' opportunity to do good for others is an offer by Barilla Pasta. When you download a free copy of The Celebrity Pasta Lovers' Cookbook, Barilla will donate $1 to America's Second Harvest's national hunger-relief efforts or a local food bank that you designate (to choose CFB, selected "CT" as the state and "New Haven" as the city). Recipes are inspired by stars like Ashley Judd and Pierce Brosnon and are adapted by chefs Giada De Laurentiis and Mario Batali. As a pasta lover myself, I eagerly downloaded the yummy recipes, and I encourage everyone to do the same. It only takes moments and it's free! Visit www.celebritypastalovers.com.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

There was a good article in The Day yesterday about serving healthy meals on "lean budgets" at soup kitchens in New London and Groton. The directors and chefs of these kitchens face the same challenges as the rest of us in terms of providing balanced, healthy meals that taste good and are appealing to those who are eating them. Except these kitchens must rely on donations of food, which isn't always the healthiest product.

As Mary Chapman, director of the SunShine Soup Kitchen, explains, "starches like pasta and mashed potatoes are hearty and filling, and quite frankly, they are what patrons ask for." Comfort food - spaghetti and meatballs, stews, meatloaf - is not a trend, it is what people want, especially in wintertime. And if you can make it healthier, while relying on donations of food for the majority of the meal, even better.

To read the entire article, click here.

Monday, January 22, 2007

The 2007 National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference will be held February 25 - 27, in Washington, D.C. Co-sponsored by the Food Research and Action Center and America's Second Harvest, this conference brings together hundreds of advocates from anti-hunger, food bank, child care, direct service, human needs, religious, children's, immigrant, health, education and other groups and organizations from across the nation to bring legislators' attention to the problem of hunger in the U.S. and propose ways to end it.

Speakers include Mike Johanns, Secretary, and Nancy Montanez Johner, Undersecretary, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The conference includes workshops on food stamps and child nutrition, and the annual "Lobby Day," where participants can schedule meetings with their legislators to discuss hunger-relief and other social service issues.

For more information on the conference, click here.

January 15-19, 2007

Friday, January 19, 2007

In an effort to spread the word about CFB's mission and work to even more businesspeople, last night, Sherry Grant, Programs Coordinator for Litchfield County and the Greater Waterbury area, and I attended the Northwest Chamber of Commerce's "Business After Hours."

Despite the beginning of snowfall, the event at the beautiful Litchfield Inn was heavily attended, with more than 200 people enjoying the wonderful food and social/business interaction. People were very welcoming and friendly to us, especially as this was the first NW Chamber event CFB has attended in a number of years.

On Tuesday night, Yolanda Lopez and Luray Bouffard, both Programs Coordinators, attended the "Business After Hours" hosted by the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce. They too found the members welcoming and even received unsolicited offers of donations and support for CFB activities.

Back in September, CFB was fortunate to have the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce host their "Business After Hours" at tour East Haven warehouse. We saw first hand how interested people were in supporting hunger-relief efforts personally and professionally.

By attending Chamber meetings in other towns in our service area, we are happy to see that this sentiment seems to be universal. Next up are the East Haven, Waterbury and Bridgeport Chambers. We look forward to pursuing partnership with many businesses across our service area to continue our mission of alleviating hunger.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Guest Blogger: Nancy L. Carrington, Executive Director

On Monday, I had the opportunity to attend a wonderful service sponsored by the New Haven Interfaith Cooperative Ministries (ICM) in honor of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As part of this special service, I had the honor of accepting this year’s offering of $1,639 on behalf of Connecticut Food Bank and the people we serve.

This extraordinary amount of money will enable Connecticut Food Bank to provide more than 5,600 meals desperately needed by 140 food-assistance programs in the greater New Haven area.

My thanks go to those who gave at the service. Thanks also to all the houses of worship represented by ICM for their kindness and generosity. Dr. King would have undoubtedly endorsed the thoughts and actions of the day. Connecticut Food Bank is very grateful for what it will enable us to do and therefore most thankful on behalf of those who will be fed.

January 8-12, 2007

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Today we had a wonderful delivery of food purchased by a donation from the Connecticut Credit Union Association. Every year, they hold a raffle to raise money to purchase food for Connecticut Food Bank. This year, they raised an amazing $33,000!

The delivery of food from Thurston Foods included high-protein items such as tuna fish, frozen chicken and turkey, peanut butter, soup and stews, fresh produce, and other staples like rice and beans. This food is especially welcome now as all the food we collected during the holidays has already been distributed and, during the winter months, donations are typically slow for us. At right is Lenny Eaton, Senior Warehouseman, unloading the Thurston Foods truck.

The CT Credit Union Association has been a valuable partner of CFB in the fight against hunger for the past four years and we are grateful for the continual generosity of their members.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Monday is Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, in observance of the late civil-rights leader's birthday. While CFB will be closed that day, we urge everyone to participate in the MLK Day of Service, sponsored by the Hands on Network, which brings people together to strengthen communities through meaningful volunteer action.

According to the Hands On Network, "Like Dr. King, Hands On Network believes everyone can achieve greatness through their service to others. This MLK Day, we will partner with local Hands On Action Centers, the Corporation for National and Community Service and other national and local organizations to inspire 25,000 volunteers to lead others in MLK Day activities. These activities will help volunteers understand how they can use Dr. King’s blueprint for civic and social activism to affect social change in their communities. Most importantly, they will challenge volunteers to use their time, talents and resources to live out Dr. King’s legacy, both during the MLK holiday and beyond."

For more about the MLK Day of Service, click here.

CFB encourages residents throughout Connecticut, young and old and of all abilities, to volunteer on Monday and throughout the year to make a difference in their communities. For information about volunteering at CFB during regular business days, click here. To search for other volunteer opportunities in your area, visit www.volunteersolutions.org.

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

In August, I wrote about 'food deserts,' areas where grocery stores are scarce and with many fast-food restaurants. A study conducted in Chicago found that people who live in such 'food deserts' are more likely to die prematurely and at greater rates from diabetes, cancer or heart disease.

Now other cities are taking a hard look at the 'urban grocery gap,' including the lack of supermarkets, and transportation to get to them, in cities such as St. Paul and Minneapolis.

According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, food deserts now engulf one-third of St. Paul and more than half of Minneapolis neighborhoods. According to their estimates, in the Twin Cities, several suburbs have more than 20 times the food stores per capita as in the food deserts. This makes it tough for those without personal transportation and limited or low-incomes to find healthy, fresh food such as fish and produce. Many must shop at local convenience stores, most of which lack fresh fruit and vegetables and have higher prices.

For the complete Pioneer Press article, click here.

Monday, January 8, 2007

This warm winter weather is certainly strange. My family and I were at a park on Saturday, joined by dozens of other families, kids and seniors. Some walkers were bundled in hats and gloves as they strolled the grounds while nearby, teenagers played basketball in shorts and tank-tops.

While for many, this extra-mild winter is welcome (I, myself, don't like cold or snow), it is equally a burden on others. For instance, local towns are saving thousands of dollars not paying for snow removal services this winter. But on the other hand, the freelance snow removers they usually contract with aren't making any money. This is especially hard on the individuals and families who depend on extra income from this seasonal job to make ends meet or save for the proverbial rainy day.

Local ski resorts are suffering, too. Without the snow to lure skiers and snowboarders, they are making less money and may have to lay off ski-lift operators and lesson instructors. When people come to depend on unreliable forces, like Mother Nature, it's difficult to recover without a back-up plan.

Let's hope that people who are saving money on their heating bills this winter are putting that money away to save for a 'snowy' day down the road, so they won't have to rely on soup kitchens and food pantries as their back-up plan. But if they do, we will be there for them.

January 1-5, 2007

Friday, January 5, 2007

This past Sunday, the greater New Haven community and hunger-relief advocates everywhere lost a dear friend. Sue Rosen, a member of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven, founded Rachel's Table. This is a prepared food recovery program that Sue began more than 15 years ago to help feed people in need by rescuing prepared, unserved food from restaurants and caterers and delivering it to New Haven area soup kitchens and shelters.

Under Sue's direction, Rachel's Table officially began at the New Haven "Taste of the Nation" gala in 1992, picking up the leftover, unserved food from the restaurants at the event and delivering it to local programs serving people in need.

In 1998, Rachel's Table Greater New Haven began a collaboration with Life Haven, Inc., a homeless women's shelter and APT Vocational Services. The community kitchen offers a comprehensive six week training program that trains six women for jobs in the food service industry. Graduates also spend two weeks after graduation at an internship program in a commercial kitchen. The program provides life skills as well as job skills training.

In 2004, Connecticut Food Bank assumed logistical operation of Rachel's Table (and it became known as CFB's Food Rescue Operation). Because of the program's success under Sue, it was easier for CFB to use our drivers and trucks to collect and delivery the food from the many participating restaurants as part of our daily work.

CFB and all the people that she so selflessly helped thank her for her warm heart, hard work and dedication to helping her neighbors in need. We will miss her.

Thursday, January 4, 2007

Happy New Year!

My computer access was limited the past few days, so I've been unable to blog and there is so much to talk about.

With the new year comes new legislative sessions in Connecticut and the U.S. Congress. It will be interesting to watch what happens in the next two years, especially in terms of social and human services.

On Wednesday, the Editorial Projects in Education Research Center released its annual "Chance for Success Index," which ranked Connecticut second in the nation in providing children with the education needed for success, and cites the state’s strong preschool programs.

Among the 'success indicators' were:

• number of children from families with incomes at least 200 percent above poverty level
• education of parents or children with at least one parent possessing a college degree
• at least one parent working full-time year-round
• children whose parents are fluent English speakers
• preschool enrollment of three-and-four-year-olds
• kindergarten enrollment of eligible children
• elementary reading
• middle school mathematics
• high school graduation

It doesn't seem surprising that Connecticut would rank high with the number families in our state who have advanced educations and the matching incomes. But between the lines is what social service and hunger-relief advocates have known for years, those families below the poverty line, who don't speak English fluently, do not have steady (or enough) employment, or are not enrolled in preschool do not succeed as well in their education.

I don't mean to diminish the fact that the state is doing a good job at preparing many kids for success in their education and beyond. But don't those children from families at 200% below the poverty level deserve just as much preparation and help as those from families 200% above the poverty level?

For more on the study, click here.

December 25-29, 2006

Friday, December 29, 2006

It is nearly New Year's again and time for resolutions. Instead of making a resolution to stop doing things - overspending money, eating junk food, speeding - why not make a resolution to do more. Take a moment each day to be more mindful of what is good in your life, try to have more patience with other people, try to give a little more more time or money to causes you believe in.

Doing small gestures like these should not cause more stress in an already-busy life, but hopefully will bring a small measure of peace and goodwill to you and those around you.

Best wishes for a healthy and happy New Year from Connecticut Food Bank.

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