More Donations Needed this Thanksgivng

Our “Thanksgiving for All” campaign is under way with special events, food drives and fundraisers to help individuals and families in need of food assistance during the holiday season and the cold winter months that follow.

The turkeys and “trimmings” collected will be distributed by Connecticut Food Bank to food-assistance programs in the days before Thanksgiving. The funds will be used to buy more holiday food and for the distribution of the donated food throughout Connecticut. Last weekend’s Stuff-a-Bus food drive sponsored by Unilever at the Silver Sands Stop & Shop in Milford yielded 1,600 pounds of food.

Last year, we distributed enough turkeys and trimmings to provide an estimated 790,000 meals for people in need during the holiday season. This year, every food and fund drive is critical, not only to collect food and funds, but to increase awareness about the ongoing problem of hunger and poverty that many Connecticut residents continue to face. One out of every seven households in Connecticut is struggling to keep food on the table.

You can watch our President & CEO Nancy L. Carrington on News 8 today, talking about the need this Thanksgiving.

CT Food Bank in need of donations: wtnh.com

“Thanksgiving for All 2011” Food Drive events include:

• 99.1 WPLR “Phil the Bowl” Food Drive. November 16 -18. Donate 10 non-perishables, a frozen turkey or $10 and receive two tickets to the Yale vs. Harvard game on Saturday, November 19, kick off at noon. WPLR is broadcasting live throughout the drive. Wednesday and Thursday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Big Y, 345 Washington Avenue, North Haven.

• “Star 99.9 Food for Friends. November 17, 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Star 99.9 is collecting non-perishables, frozen turkeys and financial donations to support Connecticut Food Bank!
Stop & Shop, Orange, 259 Bull Hill Lane
Stop & Shop, Shelton, 898 Bridgeport Avenue
Stop & Shop, Westport, 1790 Post Road East

• KC 101 Stuff-a-Bus. November 18 & 19. Collecting frozen turkeys, non-perishables and financial donations. Friday, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ShopRite Plaza, 2100 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden

• WATR Big Heart at Big Y. November 18 & 19. Collecting frozen turkeys, non-perishables and financial donations. 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Big Y, 85 Bridge Street, Naugatuck

• “Fill the Bowl” at Yale Bowl. Saturday, November 19. Presented by News 8, 99.1WPLR and Yale Athletics. Support Connecticut Food Bank by donating a frozen turkey or non-perishables and receive 2 tickets to the Yale vs. Harvard game! Collection takes place when gates open until halftime. Kick-off at noon. Yale Bowl, 250 Derby Avenue, New Haven.

• Radio 104.1 Friends of Maze Food Drive. November 20 & 21. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Monday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Connecticut Food Bank and friends at Radio 104.1 will be collecting non-perishables, frozen turkeys and cash donations. ShopRite, 846 North Colony Road, Wallingford.

• i95 Camping for Cans. Monday, November 21 – 23, 5 to 10 a.m., Stop & Shop, 72 Newtown Rd., Danbury

Connecticut Food Bank Fund Drives include:

• Check Out Hunger. Price Chopper, ShopRite and Balducci’s stores through November 30. Add a $1, $3 or $5 donation tag to your grocery bill and the funds will be donated to Connecticut Food Bank.

• Food for Friends. Stop & Shop stores through December 8. Add a $1, $3 or $5 donation tag to your grocery bill and the funds will be donated to help those in need!

In addition, Connecticut Food Bank warehouses in East Haven, Fairfield and Waterbury will have extended holiday hours to accept food and monetary donations from the public. Visit www.ctfoodbank.org for holiday hours and directions.

Those unable to get to a food drive may donate a turkey or other items at Connecticut Food Bank’s Virtual Food Drive at http://www.ctfoodbank.org.
For event or warehouse information call (203) 469-5000 or visit http://www.ctfoodbank.org.

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Connecticut Food Bank 2011 Hunger Action Heroes Honored

Connecticut Food Bank recently honored our Hunger Action Heroes at an awards ceremony attended by more than 100 at our East Haven warehouse. The heroes are individuals, businesses and organizations that go above and beyond to support Connecticut Food Bank in its mission to alleviate hunger in Connecticut. The ceremony is held annually in September, designated as Hunger Action Month.

“You are our heroes in many ways, but more importantly you are our inspiration, making a difference in the lives of the men, women and children who depend on us for food,” Connecticut Food Bank President & CEO Nancy L. Carrington told the honorees. “We thank you for your extraordinary service on behalf of our mission to alleviate hunger in Connecticut.”

Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro was presented with The Bill Liddell Award – the highest tribute paid by Connecticut Food Bank to an individual, organization or corporation in recognition of exemplary service, ongoing dedication and significant support of the Food Bank and its mission. The award was named after Bill Liddell who supported the Food Bank by donating a total of 104 tons of fresh produce, as well as time and funds. He spent six years on Connecticut Food Bank’s Board of Directors.

“Since her election to Congress in 1990, Rosa DeLauro is one of the strongest voices in for local, national and global hunger relief efforts,” said Carrington. ”We are grateful for her tireless work to help those who face the struggles of food insecurity.”

Other 2011 Connecticut Food Bank Hunger Action Heroes are:
• Carl Asikainen: Advocacy Hero
• A-1 Toyota: Business Hero
• Junior League of Greater New Haven: Civic Hero
• Walmart: Corporate Hero
• Anthony DiBenedetto, Hallock Orchard (Washington Depot): Farm Hero
• ShopRites of Hamden, Milford, Stratford and West Haven: Fundraising Hero
• Ocean State Job Lot: Food Industry Hero
• Michael Maze: Media Hero
• Waterbury’s Evangelical Christian Church: Member Program Hero
• Sam Greco: Student Hero
• Jeremy Titus: Volunteer Hero

In addition, Connecticut Food Bank recognized top individual and team fundraisers who participated in the annual Walk Against Hunger, held in New Haven, Bridgeport and Waterbury. Those events raised more than $240,000 to support hunger-relief efforts in Connecticut.

A-1 Toyota received Connecticut Food Bank’s Business Hunger Action Hero Award.

Michael Maze receives the Media Hunger Action Hero Award from Connecticut Food Bank’s Events & Promotions Coordinator Stefanie Stevens.

A-1 Toyota received Connecticut Food Bank's Business Hunger Action Hero Award.

Michael Maze receives the Media Hunger Action Hero Award from Connecticut Food Bank's Events & Promotions Coordinator Stefanie Stevens.

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Student’s gratitude earns “A” from her teacher and Connecticut Food Bank

It’s not often that we have the opportunity to hear directly from the young people who give back after experiencing what it’s like to be food insecure. An 11th grade girl recently sent the following letter to tell us her story:

“I am proud to say that due to a project I recently did; my teacher is donating $25 to your organization. I chose your organization for my project because you helped out me and my mother in times of hardship. Now, my mother and I donate as many canned foods as we can, whenever we can. As I said before, my mother and I are really grateful for the food you supplied in our time of need. I hope your organization is thriving and continues to help out those in time of need.”

Her teacher told us, “My Career Development classes had to complete an assignment dedicated to researching a nonprofit organization of their choice. The students had to present their information and visual aids to the class, thus increasing the audience’s knowledge about their charity. Each class voted on the persuasive speech presentation they thought was the best and then I chose the ultimate winner. I am pleased to enclose the $25 donation on behalf of one of my students. She did an excellent job and earned a 100 on her project. She made a personal connection to your food bank, as she and her mother were in need of your services for a period of time. Thank you again for all you do to assist people during difficult times in their lives.”

We thank the teacher and are grateful to the student for sharing her story and being so willing to put a face on hunger for her teacher and classmates. It is through the work of these brave individuals who are eager to tell about their experiences that others can begin to understand what it is like to not know where their next meal is coming from.

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Walks Against Hunger Raise More Than $232,000

Connecticut Food Bank’s Annual Walks Against Hunger in Bridgeport, New Haven and Waterbury raised more than $232,000 for hunger-relief efforts in Connecticut, a 30 percent increase over the events’ 2010 results.

The funds will enable Connecticut Food Bank to distribute more than $1 million of food at wholesale value to people in need. About 1,500 walkers participated during the three Walks in May.

Prior to Walk day, participants gather monetary pledges from family members, friends, colleagues and others. Proceeds are used by Connecticut Food Bank to transport, warehouse and distribute food to local community agencies, such as soup kitchens, shelters, food pantries, and youth and adult day programs.
“We are grateful to the walkers, donors and sponsors of all three events for their continued support of our Walks Against Hunger,” said Connecticut Food Bank President & CEO Nancy L. Carrington. “This year’s extraordinary total will go a long way to feed those who are struggling to put food on the table for themselves and their families. In Connecticut, one in seven households is affected by hunger.”

The top individual fundraisers in New Haven were:
First Prize: Stephanie Hall
Second Prize: Diana Cooke
Third Prize: John Palmer

Team fundraising prizes in New Haven were awarded to:
First Prize: Junior League of Greater New Haven
Second Prize: Master’s Manna Guiding Lights
Third Prize: HID DeFeet Hunger

The top individual fundraisers in Bridgeport were:
First Prize: Danielle Delapp
Second Prize: Deborah Arsenault
Third Prize: Mary Ann Hood

Team fundraising prizes in Bridgeport were awarded to:
First Prize: The Sheryl Summers Memorial Walk for Hunger, East End Baptist Church
Second Prize: Calvary SDA Lighthouse of Love
Third Prize: Sikorsky GSC-Team “Great Spirit Causes Team Engagement Against Malnutrition”

The top individual fundraisers in Waterbury were:
First Prize: Anne Lanteri
Second Prize: Alexandria Campbell
Third Prize: Sandra Kelly

Team fundraising prizes in Waterbury were awarded to:
First Prize: Federation Feet, Jewish Federation
Second Prize: Bread of Life Food Pantry
Third Prize: Fruits of Our Labor, Waterbury Baptist Ministries

Sponsors of Connecticut Food Bank’s Walk Against Hunger include Presenting Sponsor Webster Bank; Platinum Sponsors 99.1 WPLR; Star 99.9; and Whole Foods; and Silver Sponsor Chabaso Bread. Bronze Sponsors include Marcum Accountants and Cabot Cheese; and Sneaker Sponsors Connecticut Dietetic Association, CTbites, General Mills, Great Event Decorations, Harty Integrated Solutions, Photography & More, Subway and Town Fair Tire.

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Connecticut Food Bank Helps Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger May 14

Connecticut Food Bank is joining the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) on Saturday, May 14, to Stamp Out Hunger. The Stamp Out Hunger food drive is the nation’s largest single-day food drive, representing 1,500 local branches of the postal union. Letter carriers across the country are collecting non-perishable food donations that day along their postal routes.

Held annually on the second Saturday in May, the event helps replenish food banks and pantries in more than 10,000 communities. Last year the Stamp Out Hunger food drive collected a record 77.1 million pounds of food donations, pushing the 18-year total to more than one billion pounds of food.

“Connecticut Food Bank is glad to assist the letter carriers in Bridgeport, East Haven, Hamden, Stratford and Waterbury in their efforts to help us alleviate hunger in Connecticut,” said Nancy L. Carrington, Connecticut Food Bank’s president and CEO. “This food drive is important because recent data tells us that 52 percent of the nearly 400,000 people in Connecticut who struggle with hunger do not qualify for financial assistance. They are going to our network of food pantries and soup kitchens for help.” Over the last five years, the food drive has donated 109,500 pounds of food to Connecticut Food Bank.

Residents are encouraged to take part in the Stamp Out Hunger food drive by leaving a sturdy bag containing non-perishable food items, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, canned fish or meats, pasta, rice or cereal next to their mailbox before the regular mail delivery time on Saturday, May 14. Letter carriers are collecting these food donations as they deliver the mail and are taking them to a local agency or Connecticut Food Bank.

For more information about the Stamp Out Hunger food drive in Connecticut, ask a letter carrier, contact a local post office, or visit www.helpstampouthunger.com, www.facebook.com/StampOutHunger, or www.twitter.com/StampOutHunger.

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Dunkin’ Donuts Employees Rise to the Challenge for Kids’ BackPack Program

The Mohegan Sun Arena is known for WNBA games and rock concerts. But on Thursday morning, the floor of the arena was taken over by corporate employees of Dunkin’ Donuts and Connecticut Food Bank for two hours of competitive community service and chaos.

At the invitation of Dunkin’ Donuts, the food bank brought in two truckloads of Kids’ BackPack supplies in the wee hours of the morning. By 10 a.m., the Dunkin’ Donuts employees arrived to hear a challenge: a similar group in New Orleans had packed 6,000 packets of food for its local Kids’ BackPack program and we wanted to beat that record.

After a Dunkin’ Donuts Baskin Robbins Community Foundation check presentation of $5,700 to help defray the costs of the Kids’ BackPack program, the employees were divided into five teams. To promote that competitive spirit, the team that packed the most bags was going to get a coveted Golden Backpack, made for this occasion by the Food Bank’s own Carly Yearsley, our Child Nutrition Coordinator.

We weren’t quite sure what to expect. Our typical backpacking volunteer experience has, at most, a dozen people quietly putting together the bags of food for children who would otherwise go hungry on weekends when they don’t have access to school meals. Each bag must contain two wholegrain cereal products, two shelf-stable milks, two protein-based entrees, two healthy snacks, and two 100% juice boxes. We distribute more than 1,700 of these bags each week to 65 schools in 15 school districts and depend on volunteers every week to make it happen. But 250 exuberant, caffeine-buzzed (we are talking about Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, after all) volunteers with slightly more than an hour available to beat a New Orleans all-time record was an all-new experience.

Each team of 50 came up with a fast game plan and team member assignments – they had product box openers, runners to refill the packing tables, box makers, bag openers, and dozens of packers lined up at tables. And when the whistle blew, they were off and running.

It was frenzied, it was noisy, it was fun… and in the middle of it, WTNH showed up and waded into the middle of the action for a TV news story which didn’t slow the crowd down one bit. When Carly announced “Freeze” and they stopped packing (well, when Carly announced “Freeze” for the third or fourth time and they started to slow down – did we mention that caffeine-buzz?), we beat the New Orleans record by hundreds. A month’s supply of bags had been packed!

Of course, we added clean-up as a requirement – no prize awarded until the area was almost as spotless as it had been before the event started – and they managed that in record time too (there’s that caffeine-buzz again).

Congratulations to teams “Pack Pack Pack” and “Latte Packing Going On,” (yes, we had a tie!) who get to share that coveted Golden BackPack. But there were no losers because it was all for a good cause – to feed hungry children here in Connecticut.

To get a couch-potato view (but do have some Dunkin’Donuts caffeine and join the buzz), click on the link to the WTNH story here.

Our disclaimer: All references to a caffeine-buzz are strictly the opinion of this coffee-drinking reporter and not the official claim of the Dunkin’ Donuts brand. But it is a reason we all arrive to work every morning with that DD cup in hand…. After all, America runs on Dunkin’.

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Junior League’s “Super” Saturday Food Drive Scores Big

The day before the Super Bowl, while many were gearing up for the “Big Game,” the Junior League of Greater New Haven was aiming to make a big impact for the Connecticut Food Bank.

About 15 League members participated in the Super Saturday food drive Feb. 5 at the Stop & Shop supermarket in New Haven’s Westville neighborhood for much of the day. Several members’ friends and significant others also pitched in for the good cause.

Members collected numerous food donations on one of the busiest days of the year for grocery shopping, as well as many cash donations.

While final tallies are not yet available, League President Kimberly Pedrick said it was an extremely busy day at the supermarket – with the entire store’s shopping carts in use most of the time! And the event was a great experience for League members and shoppers/donors alike. The Junior League has partnered with the food bank on this event for several years, and members always find it a very rewarding experience.

Posted by the Junior League of Greater New Haven. Since 2005, the Connecticut Food Bank has provided an additional 50,000 meals to those in need from the funds donated and food drives hosted by the Junior League of Greater New Haven.

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Junior League of Greater New Haven Helps Connecticut Food Bank’s Fight to Alleviate Hunger

The Junior League of Greater New Haven, a group of area women of all ages and backgrounds committed to improving the community, has partnered with the Connecticut Food Bank for more than five years and found it among our most rewarding relationships.

The food bank’s mission to alleviate hunger coincides well with the League’s mission, which is to promote voluntarism, develop the potential of women, and improve our community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.

By supporting the important mission of Connecticut Food Bank, we as League members get the opportunity to help strengthen the community in which we live.

We began working with Connecticut Food Bank as what we call a “Done in a Day” project in 2005, and two years later in 2007 developed a committee devoted solely to the partnership. The first activity we took part in was the Caravan of Carriages, when we walked with food-filled grocery carts from Stop & Shop in Branford to Connecticut Food Bank’s warehouse in East Haven.

One of the great aspects of our partnership with Connecticut Food Bank has been the breadth of options it has given us when deciding how to help.

Over the years, League members have pitched in at a wide array of events, and we are very excited to be helping out at the upcoming Super Saturday food drive on Feb. 5, at the Amity Super Stop & Shop, as we have had great experiences volunteering at that event in the past.

In addition, we’ve spent many hours helping to sort food at the CFB, staffing and hosting food drives, and participating in the annual Walk Against Hunger. We’ve also incorporated the food bank into some of our social events, collecting food at our meetings as well as at happy hours in New Haven and Hamden.

We’ve had several members undergo “Hunger 101″ training to get a better idea of how hunger and food insecurity impact people in Greater New Haven. And some of the most popular events among our membership have been helping out during Thanksgiving for All and Stamp Out Hunger events.

The League also has sponsored Connecticut Food Bank’s Virtual Food Drive, where a $10 donation can buy 40 meals for families in need.

We have great respect for Connecticut Food Bank and our partnership with the organization. Beyond our upcoming assistance Feb. 5 at the Super Saturday event, we look forward to continuing and growing our relationship with the great people at the food bank!

Posted by the Junior League of Greater New Haven. Since 2005, the Connecticut Food Bank has provided an additional 50,000 meals to those in need from the funds donated and food drives hosted by the Junior League of Greater New Haven.

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Mobile Pantry Program, $100,000 Grant from Wal-Mart Employees Brings Fresh Produce and Other Food Items to Those in Need

Connecticut Food Bank has a new partner in its efforts to fight hunger in the state. Since September of this year, the state¹s largest food bank has operated a Mobile Pantry Program that brings nutritional items to food insecure families and households in six Connecticut counties.

The Mobile Pantry Program gives Connecticut Food Bank the ability to distribute fresh food items including dairy products, fresh vegetables, fruit, whole grain goods and other perishable items directly to individuals in need. The healthy food choices are due in large part to a $100,000 grant from Wal-Mart employees submitted through the Wal-Mart Foundation¹s Associate Choice Program.

“We are extremely grateful for this generous donation that will make a world of difference in the lives of people struggling with food insecurity in the communities we serve,” said Nancy L. Carrington, Chief Executive Officer of Connecticut Food Bank. “Connecticut Food Bank is proud to be recognized by the Wal-Mart Foundation’s Associate Choice Program for the vital service that we, along with our volunteers and partners, provide to those in need on a daily basis.”

Carrington said the Mobile Pantry Program is convenient for people in need who may not have the transportation or financial means to access resources for fresh, nutritional products. She said people with limited means often stretch their food budgets by purchasing inexpensive, high-calorie products. Local food-assistance programs may not have large-scale refrigeration and storage facilities for perishable foods. Those programs are limited to providing processed and non-perishable items.

“The Mobile Pantry Program allows recipients to select the items they need from the pantry truck in their own neighborhoods,” said Carrington. “For those that rely on food pantries, thanks again to the kindness and generosity of Wal-Mart employees, perishable products will now be available.”

According to the latest figures from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Connecticut had one of the largest increases in food insecure households in the country since 2007. The Mobile Pantry Program will help Connecticut Food Bank address the needs of many of the 400,000 food insecure residents in the state.

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Our Thanks

This past Thanksgiving Day, many of us sat around the dinner table surrounded by friends and families expressing our gratitude over heaping plates of food. Thousands of men, women and children who are struggling to survive in today’s economy were also able to share in the spirit of the holiday thanks to the generosity of their neighbors.

Scores of individuals, families, civic groups, schools, religious organizations and companies came forward in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving to help make Connecticut Food Bank’s “Thanksgiving for All” campaign a success. Together, we collected 24,516 turkeys and more than 360 tons of trimmings. With everyone’s help, we were able to provide nearly 779,503 meals for people in need of food assistance this holiday season.

The kindness demonstrated throughout our Thanksgiving campaign was not only awe-inspiring, but also a testament to what we can do when we work together as a community. As today’s recession continues to push more of our neighbors over the brink of financial security, we have to do more. Hunger is a year-round issue that doesn’t end on Thanksgiving weekend. You can help Connecticut families year round by making a donation at http://www.ctfoodbank.org/donate.

Since this current recession began, Connecticut saw one of the most significant increases in households grappling with food insecurity according to a federal report released days before Thanksgiving.

We can’t justify people living with hunger. We must do all we can to change this. And as we learned this past Thanksgiving, we have the ability and fortitude to feed thousands of individuals who were in danger of going without a holiday meal. Let’s carry that resolve beyond Thanksgiving and into the days and months that follow.

On behalf of Connecticut Food Bank and the 650 food-assistance programs we serve, thank you for your wonderful support this Thanksgiving and all year long.

Sincerely,

Nancy L. Carrington
Chief Executive Officer
Connecticut Food Bank

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