18/Nov/15 / 22:51
Connecticut Food Bank Receives
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation Grant

 

WALLINGFORD, CONN., November 12, 2015 – A $40,000 grant from the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation will increase the amount of donated, local produce available to community members supported by the Connecticut Food Bank.

 

The Healthy Food Fund grant will support a Farm-to-Pantry program that helps farmers harvest excess crops for donation to the Connecticut Food Bank. Connecticut’s nonprofit leader in the fight against hunger, the Connecticut Food Bank works with Connecticut food growers to source fresh produce for some 700 partners and programs that work to alleviate hunger for more than 300,000 people in six Connecticut counties.

 

“Thanks to the vision and support of the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation, hungry Connecticut residents will have access to more nutritional produce,” said Connecticut Food Bank Interim CEO Paul O’Leary.

 

O’Leary said many Connecticut farmers want to donate more produce but are challenged to harvest and transport time-intensive crops for donation. “The Farm-to-Pantry program helps us source highly desirable and nutritious produce and reduce food waste.”

 

More than 30 percent of the food distributed by the Connecticut Food Bank is fresh produce, in high demand by community-based food programs because of its nutritional value. “Locally grown food has so many benefits as we help our neighbors, strengthen our communities and support our farmers,” O’Leary said.

 

The Connecticut Food Bank distributes food through a network of partner agencies, including food pantries, soup kitchens, residential and day care programs in six Connecticut Counties. The Connecticut Food Bank also directly distributes food through its Mobile Pantry program; its GROW Up With Good Nutrition program for families with young children; the Kids’ BackPack program to bridge the weekend meal gap for children receiving free meals at school; and a supplemental foods program for income-limited seniors.

 

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.

 

###