It was a big battle with a happy ending this year! Connecticut is now the leader in the nation in creating healthier schools for our children, both in the food they eat as well as the messages our schools give them. On May 19th Governor M. Jodi Rell signed SB 373, An Act Concerning Healthy Foods and Beverages in Schools into law, creating Public Act 06-63. This law only allows the sale of water, milk, and 100% fruit and vegetable juices in schools, unless there is an event when school is not in session (i.e. community events, sporting events or fundraisers) as long as the drinks are not sold out of vending machines. Additionally, schools may choose to increase school lunch funding by opting into the State Department of Education’s healthier food standards.

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery then Connecticut should be very flattered! Days after the bill was passed in the House after a 5 1/2 hour debate (2 1/2 hours shorter than the year before!) a national partnership between President Bill Clinton and the American Heart Association announced a voluntary deal with the top three soda companies (Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Cadbury-Schweppes) and the American Beverage Association (the soda industry trade group) to decrease the availability of soda in schools. The voluntary agreement depends on schools to renegotiate contracts and will not be implemented until 2010 – and is not as strong as the Connecticut law.

While this year’s legislative session was the shortest session in our history it was as intense as it was short! Soda company lobbyists worked hard to defeat the bill. A coalition of parent, public health and advocacy groups joined forces to pass the legislation. Here is a link to the list of supporters.Of special note is Senator Don Williams’ untiring commitment to the passage of the legislation and his ongoing work to garner the Governor’s commitment before the legislative session even began that she would sign the bill once it passed through the General Assembly. Finally, it should be noted that all of you who made phone calls and wrote e-mails to convince your legislators - thank you!

EHC!, City of Hartford, State Department of Education, USDA and many other community organizations kicked off the Summer Food Program in Hartford at Goodwin Park on July 12th. Kids ate a free lunch, listened to storytellers and musicians and participated in jump rope contests.

The Food Research and Action Center's "Hunger Doesn't Take a Vacation" report documents low participation in the Summer Food Program in Connecticut. Only 1 in 5 kids who eat a free or reduced priced meal during the school year eat a summer food meal. The report highlights why raising awareness about the program, through kick-off events, Public Service Announcements and other media helps more kids eat a summer lunch.

Five communities around the state received End Hunger CT's "Operation Participation" grants this summer. Here is a list of the winners and their projects:

Community Renewal Team, Middletown will offer kids “frequent participant” cards that will be punched each time they eat a meal. When a child gets five punches the card will go in a drawing for a raffle. Small prizes will be awarded each week, with two larger prizes awarded in the end of July and on the last day of the program. The “punch cards” aim to create a sense of excitement and achievement and thereby increase the likelihood of the child to return for a prize.

Manchester Board of Education will implement activities to increase participation at their five locations by offering soccer balls, basketballs, baseballs and other games to encourage physical activity. The grant will also be used to fund multiple raffles at each site throughout the duration of the program. The children will fill out their name and number on each meal ticket received until the raffle drawing. Each winner will be awarded a prize along with a gift certificate to an area grocery store.

New Opportunities, Inc., Meriden will aim to promote physical activity, teamwork, and involvement by providing games and activities in sites lacking these resources. The games and equipment will be geared toward different ages to include all age groups. The grant will allow for purchases of such things as whiffle balls and bats, jump ropes, and specific arts and crafts.

Town of Groton Department of Human Services has created a “Whodunit” mystery program called “Take a Bite Out of Lunch! The program includes a story read by a guest police officer and a related mystery puzzle. Clues will be given at each session leading up to the last session where a suit case will be unlocked. Grant money will be used to pay for the mystery prize tee-shirts that will read, “Take a Bite Out of Lunch!

Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group, North Grosvenordale will be conducting multiple recreational activities for different days throughout the week the program is in operation. Games, crafts, tournaments, face painting, etc; will take place at least one day in the week. A “reading corner” including a book swap will be available on a different day of the week. As an added treat, the TEEG group will continue its previously successful “Make your own Sundae” Fridays. These activities will keep children active and reading with the intention to increase participation at the site

This year as many as 15 farmers' markets around the state are able to accept EBT/food stamp benefits to pay for fresh, locally grown produce. This is a relatively new phenomen and something that many food stamp recipients may not know about.

EHC!, through a CT Dept. of Agriculture grant is working closely with the Windham and Scotland Farmers' Markets to increase redemption of EBT benefits at the markets. For more information on how to promote EBT at farmers' markets please contact Sally Mancini at (860) 560-2100 ext. 17.

email: smancini@endhungerct.org

phone: (860) 560-2100

web: http://www.endhungerct.org