Hunger Learning Center:

Facts and Stats

• In Connecticut, there are an estimated 280,000 people at risk of hunger every year. These are people from all walks of life – children, working parents, seniors, people with disabilities, etc.
• CFB tries to reach everyone in need through 650 community-based food programs, such as soup kitchens, food pantries and shelters, but we know we need to do more.
• In 2007, Connecticut Food Bank distributed 15.3 million pounds of food to people in need in six of the state’s eight counties.
• Since its founding in 1982, Connecticut Food Bank has distributed more than 171 million pounds of food.
• On average, Connecticut Food Bank distributes 110,650 grocery carts of food per year – so many carts that if you lined them up, they’d reach from CFB’s East Haven warehouse to Westport and back.
• Every business day, Connecticut Food Bank distributes 424 grocery carts worth of food (nearly 29 ½ tons of food every business day).
• What can you do? Every little bit helps. One can of food, one dollar or one hour of your time can make a difference in the life of someone who doesn’t have enough to eat every day.
• Every dollar donated to Connecticut Food Bank helps us provide 3 ½ meals to a family, a child, or senior in need. Five dollars can provide 18 meals!
• Even in a state as wealthy as Connecticut, there is a huge need for food assistance, especially in cities like Bridgeport and New Haven. Sometimes the difference between a family who uses a food program and one that doesn’t is the sudden loss of a job, an illness, or unexpected rise in health or utilities bills.
• A survey of food pantry and soup kitchen clients in Connecticut revealed that:
  • 42% had to choose between paying for food or utilities
  • 34% had to choose between food or paying rent
  • 30% had to choose between food or medical care