27/Sep/19 / 17:12

CONNECTICUT FOOD BANK FARMERS MARKET ROLLS INTO WATERBURY

School-Based Food Distribution Program is Partnered With Waterbury Public Schools

 

WATERBURY, CONN., September 27, 2019 — The Connecticut Food Bank is bringing its school-based Farmers Market Mobile Pantry to Waterbury, in partnership with the Waterbury Public Schools. The Farmers Market is part of the Connecticut Food Bank Child Hunger Impact Program (CHIP), aimed at increasing access to nutritious foods for families with school age children where the household struggles with food insecurity.

 

Beginning Tuesday, October 1, the Farmers Market Mobile Pantry will occur on the first Tuesday of every month, from 4:30PM to 5:30PM, at Chase Elementary School, 40 Woodtick Road. The Farmers Market will be publicized at all Waterbury public schools to encourage attendance among food insecure households with school-age children. The emphasis is on school families, said Connecticut Food Bank CEO Valarie Shultz-Wilson, “but all in need are welcome to attend. The Connecticut Food Bank is committed to alleviating hunger in our area.”

 

The Connecticut Food Bank CHIP seeks to ensure children and households have access to a reliable, monthly resource of fresh produce, healthful grains, dairy products, and proteins, Shultz-Wilson said. “We are reaching into the schools to help ease food insecurity for the entire household and help children arrive at school healthy, happy, and ready to learn.”

 

Connecticut Food Bank CHIP programs operate in communities across the Connecticut Food Bank service area, Shultz-Wilson said. The program has three modes to serve communities with differing levels of need and infrastructure. “We offer a Mobile Farmers Market that operates monthly; a school-based food pantry, with the school becoming a Connecticut Food Bank member agency; or a system of referrals to Connecticut Food Bank partners and programs already operating in the area.”

 

The Waterbury Public Schools are working with the Connecticut Food Bank to provide a host site and to link school community volunteers with the Food Bank to help with monthly distributions. “All volunteers will be trained by and registered with the Connecticut Food Bank,” said Linda Franzese, Food Service Director with the Waterbury Public Schools. “We hope that community members will step forward to help their neighbors participate in this important food and nutrition resource.”

 

The Connecticut Food Bank Farmers Market Mobile Pantry will operate from 4:30PM to 5:30PM, on the first Tuesday of each month, at Chase Elementary School, 40 Woodtick Road in Waterbury. All in need are welcome. Individuals and households attending the market are reminded to bring reusable shopping bags to carry home their groceries. Information about Connecticut Food Bank Mobile Pantries and partner programs is available at www.ctfoodbank.org/gethelp.

 

About the Connecticut Food Bank:

The Connecticut Food Bank is committed to alleviating hunger in Connecticut by providing food resources, raising awareness of the challenges of hunger, and advocating for people who need help meeting basic needs. The Connecticut Food Bank partners with the food industry, food growers, donors, and volunteers to distribute nutritious food to people in need. The Connecticut Food Bank distributes food through a network of 600 partners and programs in Fairfield, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, and Windham counties – where nearly 270,000 people struggle with hunger. Last year, the Connecticut Food Bank distributed food to help provide nearly 22.5 million meals. Visit us on the web at www.ctfoodbank.org, like us on Facebook and follow @CTFoodBank on Twitter and Instagram