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Legislative Update
The Connecticut legislative session ended on May 7th at midnight, leaving many people disappointed in the results. There were some successes during the short session, but bills calling for funds did not get a vote. The Governor and Legislative Leaders choose to make no mid-term adjustments on our bi-annual budget, so new funds were not allocated.
No Legislative outcome:
1) SB 339: An Act Concerning Child Nutrition Programs - This bill would have increased participation in the School Breakfast program through in classroom grants, expand the summer nutrition program and would have created a child nutrition outreach program at the State Department of Education.
2) SB 415: An Act Concerning Appropriations for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Grants for Emergency and Community Food Sites - This bill allocated $ 2 million for the state's food banks to buy protein food and vegetables to give to the our emergency food sites.
Although we were not as successful as you would have liked this session, your many calls and emails to legislators really made a difference. Thank you so much for your continued support and action!
Legislation of interest that passed the House and Senate:
1) HB 5536: An Act Establishing the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership - This bill would open the state employee health care insurance pool to municipalities, nonprofits and small businesses with 50 employees or less, and create cost savings. This bill passed both the House and Senate and is now awaiting action by the Governor.
2) SB 344: An Act Concerning Family Prosperity and the Recommendations of the Child Poverty and Prevention Council - One of the many parts of this bill requires that the Department of Social Services establish a Food Stamp Employment and Training and grant program for providers who serve food stamp eligible recipients. This bill passed both the House and Senate and is now awaiting action by the Governor.
3) HB 5105: An Act Concerning the Minimum Wage - This bill would increase the minimum wage to $8.00 in FY09 and to $8.25 in FY10. This bill passed both the House and Senate and is now awaiting action by the Governor.
4) HB 5873: An Act Concerning the Face of Connecticut Account Steering Committee and the Preservation of Farmland - Face of Connecticut steering committee established, which would be charged with allocating a pool of funds through state grant programs.
There is still time to take action on these bills. Call the Governor's office (860) 566-4840 or (800) 406-1527 and urge her to sign these very important bills today!
Also passed by the House and Senate and awaiting action by the Governor:
5) HB 5658: An Act Concerning the Confidentiality of Social Security Numbers - This bill requires any business that collects personal information, which is information that can be associated with an individual through an identifier like a Social Security number, to have a privacy protection policy and to safeguard the computer files and documents containing it. The privacy protection policy must: protect the confidentiality of Social Security numbers, prohibit unlawful disclosure of Social Security numbers, and limit access to Social Security numbers.
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Farm Bill Passes House and Senate, Vetoed by President Bush
There was very exciting news last week when both the House and the Senate passed the Farm Bill (H.R. 2419) with veto-proof margins; unfortunately the President vetoed the bill this week. It is expected that the House and Senate will override his veto, only the second time this will have happened during his administration. This historic Farm Bill will enhance food stamp benefits, food stamp access and emergency food purchases.
The bill increases spending on nutrition programs by $10.3 billion, including increasing the minimum benefit from $10 to $14. It would also index the assets limits to inflation, encouraging saving for food stamp recipients and increases the support for the emergency feeding organizations, including food banks, food pantries, and soup kitchens.
We are hopeful that the House and Senate will work quickly to pass a historic Farm Bill that will help those low-income families and individuals that need the help.
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Congratulations Summer Food Sponsors!
Thanks to your efforts, more children enjoyed a happy and healthy summer last year. An astounding 19 Summer Nutrition program sponsors increased the number of meals they served during the summer of 2006 to 2007. Ways in which summer food participation increased include: extending the number of operating days, serving breakfast and supper in addition to lunch, adding sites, and increasing the number of children eating at sites.
The nineteen sponsors were:
Ansonia Board of Education
Danbury Board of Education
East Hartford: Sodexho School Services *
Trinity College
City of Hartford
Meriden- Sponsored by New Opportunities, Inc.
Middletown- Sponsored by CRT, Inc. *
New Britain Board of Education
New London Board of Education
Stamford: Sodexho School Services
Stratford: Sodexho School Services
Town of Stonington
Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group (TEEG) *
Waterbury Board of Education
West Haven Board of Education
Windham Board of Education
Torrington: Education Connection *
Central Connecticut State University
Naugatuck Valley Community College
* received Operation Participation Grants from EHC!
Thank you for all that you do!
The Summer Nutrition Programs provides free meal to kids 18 and under and serves as a support system when school meals are not available and are especially vital in tough economic times. Summer Food sites often have recreational component that keep kids active and productive during the summer months. For more information about the Summer Nutrition programs including locations, please call Dawn Crayco at (860)560-2100 ext. 14.
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Disaster Food Stamps
In what can only be described as a local miracle, no one was killed or injured in an early morning, six alarm fire at the Peachtree Apartment complex in Norwich.
The fire broke out around 1:30 am on April 26th near the right corner of the complex. Fire officials said that within ten minutes, the flames spread through the courtyard and were swept up through the roof. Firefighters were eventually able to contain the blaze, but the damage was so extensive it was determined that the entire complex will have to be demolished.
The apartments were home to about 150 residents, 20 of whom are disabled. Most escaped with little more than their pajamas.
Nearly as miraculous is the response of both the social service agencies and the community at large. Agencies at the scene included Norwich Human Services, Emergency Management, the Southeast Mental Health Authority and the Uncas Health District.
End Hunger CT! was there too.
Within hours, the Red Cross opened an emergency shelter. A Food Stamp Outreach worker from End Hunger CT!, Phyllis Cappuccio, arrived to assist residents in replacing or getting emergency food stamps and to help distribute list of emergency resources.
Beverly Goulet, Norwich Human Services Director and End Hunger CT! Board Vice-chairman took the lead in assisting the victims. She assigned a staff member to every fire victim to track their needs in the upcoming months. Using the Departments headquarters at Broadway, the office has dedicated its efforts to be the main source for everything from new apartments and clothing to replacement eyeglasses and gas cards.
Additionally, elderly tenants are being assisted by staff from the Rose City Senior Center, a member agency of EHC!'s Food First Advisory Board.
As of today, 83 families have found new permanent homes. Help continues to pour in from a variety of fundraising efforts and community donations as well as special loans funded by the Small Business Administration to replace lost possessions.
EHC! is proud to be a small part of such a large effort.
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Staff Changes
Madeline Trinidad has joined the End Hunger staff as an Administrative Assistant. Previously she worked for The Salvation Army Community Services Department as the Program Coordinator for the Young Parents Program where she worked with Pre-Natal & first time parents. She is familiar with End Hunger Connecticut! because she worked here as one of our first Food Stamp Outreach workers. We are excited to have her back!
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Buy CT Grown!
 Spring is here, flowers, fruits and vegetables galore - find out where your local Connecticut grown foods are through this helpful web-site. Let's support our local farmers!
Buy CT Grown connects consumers with Connecticut grown products quickly and easily -- whether on a menu, at a farm, farmers' market or local nursery. | |
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Lucy Nolan
End Hunger Connecticut! |
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