Hunger is silent. Shared Harvest Connecticut Combats Food Insecurity
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Did you know that your neighbors are hungry? According to statistics, Connecticut is the richest state in the nation AND YET we rank:
- FIRST in increase of working families raising children in poverty,
- FIRST in loss of income among poorest population,
- FIFTH in change of ration of incomes from poorest to richest, and
- 23rd in Child Poverty Rate at an ASTOUNDING 17% and growing exponentially.
Here? In Connecticut? Where the per capita income is highest in the nation? You'd be surprised to know that 9.5% of Connecticut's population is living in poverty, 24% of our school children are living in poverty, 8.8% of households are food insecure, and 3.8% of households are food INSECURE and HUNGRY. And THAT was in 1998. After the recession?
We need help. Serious help.
In 2009 the need for food increased by 20% mostly due to economic factors such as rising unemployment rates. Many people now facing food insecurity challenges are the very same people who were donating to Foodshare just a few years ago. According to Foodshare's latest press release, many suburban families are now the ones finding it difficult to make ends meet. No longer an "urban city" issue, hunger is creeping across our state in swift silence. Nobody stands up to announce that they're hungry, but they are.
And that's where Shared Harvest Connecticut is going to help. We're partnering with Food Gleaners.
Shared Harvest Connecticut is a communications portal to unite those with extra food to those who need it.
Shared Harvest Connecticut is a GIVING platform and nonprofits benefit when Nutmeggers shop according to their values. How? Shared Harvest Connecticut allows for the donation of locally produced food and products. Just like our farmers and producers are posting their wares for sale, any organization can post food for donation. ANY organization! If you have fields that could be gleaned, or leftovers from the kitchen, or breads that are one day old . . . . . please consider joining forces with Shared Harvest Connecticut, Foodshare, and Food Runners CT.
That's step ONE. Step TWO? Moving this extra food around the state.
Meet Stephen Slipchinsky of Foodshare whose volunteers will glean farm fields in Hartford and Tolland Counties
Foodshare is the heart of greater Hartford's fight against hunger, bringing together individuals and organizations to create effective solutions to end hunger in all 42 towns of Hartford and Tolland counties. Serving as our region's food bank, we distribute 16 tons of food each day to a network of nearly 350 local agencies that feed our hungry neighbors. This vital safety net helps more than 128,000 people in our region who are at risk including 10,000 seniors, the working poor, and 50,000 children.
Since 1982, Foodshare has sought to end hunger in our region. Working in partnership with other community leaders such as the United Way, End Hunger Connecticut! and 211 Infoline, Foodshare has the experience and is building the networks necessary to help make this vision a reality. But ending hunger requires more than just distribution of food. Reducing the number of people in need by increasing their self-sufficiency helps to address the chronic underlying reasons why people are hungry. These stem from poverty, not just the immediate lack of food. And engaging members of the greater community to increase understanding of these real causes and solutions to hunger is crucial. Our goal is to inspire community members to become personally involved in effective hunger solutions.
Those in need of assistance should visit http://www.foodshare.org/ or call 860-286-9999. Searching for a meal is NOTHING to be ashamed of and you will be referred back to a local program right in your neighborhood (community kitchens, food pantries, etc.).
CALLING ALL FARMERS: If you live in Tolland or Hartford Counties and have an opportunity to allow volunteers to safely glean your fields, please post your donations or opportunities on Shared Harvest Connecticut. Farmers & Market Masters can also find Foodshare at these two locations: 450 Woodland Ave. Bloomfield 860-286-9999 and 101 Reserve Rd. Hartford (in the Regional Market) 860-286-9999 X 134.
Meet Andy Geremia of Food Runners CT whose volunteers will pick up excess perishable food from farm markets and businesses such as farms, restaurants and bakeries from across the state.
Andy started the nonprofit Food Runners CT after heard a story on WPNR about a volunteer organization in San Francisco called Food Runners that pickups excess perishable foods and delivers it to nonprofit organizations in their community. The concept sounded so simple and effective, Andy wondered why there wasn't something like this in CT! When he arrived at work, he called Food Runners founder, Mary Risely, to learn how she got started. Originally from CT, Mary owns and runs the Tante Marie Cooking School and has a cookbook by the same name.
According to Andy, Food Runners CT's mission "is to help alleviate hunger in Connecticut, prevent food waste, and create community. We want to be an additional source of food for all the wonderful organizations in CT that support families in need. We do that by offering a convenient method for farmers and retail business to donate their excess perishable food which may otherwise be disposed of because there is no easy way to get the food to organizations that can use it. That's were Food Runners come in, our volunteers pick up and deliver the food in a timely, safe, and convenient manner."
How can YOU get involved with Food Runners CT?
Most people today want to make a difference in their community but many times it is difficult to find a volunteering opportunity that fits into their schedules. Food Runner volunteers can select the most convenient time and day to volunteer their time. Simply visit http://www.foodrunnersct.org/ and contact Andy by phone or email. I believe people will find volunteering for Food Runners a very enjoyable, rewarding volunteering experience (and their mileage is considered a tax deductible donation!). Andy only asks volunteers to commit to only one pick and delivery per month, and best of all their efforts directly impact their community - the food they deliver to a soup kitchen one day is in the mouths of children and families the next day.
As famers' markets start their seasons this May/June, Andy plans to have Food Runner volunteers there to gather their donations at the end of the day (foods that can't be resold) and deliver them to local organizations that they have made arrangements with. To do so, they'll need volunteers from all around the state that are willing to pickup and deliver food locally within their community.
Have something you want Food Runners CT to pick up? Post your donations or opportunities on Shared Harvest Connecticut.
Tap YOUR organization into Shared Harvest Connecticut
Are you a food bank or a nonprofit specializing in meeting the food security needs of Connecticut residents? Please visit our website to learn more about how to participate as a nonprofit.
Are you an organization with occasional excess perishable food? Please visit our website to learn more about how to register as a consumer and post items for donation.