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| We're on the MOVE!
Literally! We moved down the street (read more below)
Figuratively! We're moving forward at a fast pace!
New Location!
As of 8/1/11 EHC!'s new address is:
End Hunger Connecticut!
65 Hungerford Street
Hartford, CT 06106
That's right, we're only a half block away from our old office but have more space to accommodate our growing staff, projects, and client base.Our office corners Hungerford and Russ Street-just look for our EHC! welcome sign!
EHC! would like to extend a huge thank you to the following organizations and individuals who donated goods, time, and services to support our move:
Bank of America
Nationwide Movers of Bloomfield
Carol Karney
Xobal Inc.
Luis R. Gonzalez
Dan Ericson
Danielle Suber
A special thank you to our wonderful and dedicated colleague Gail Corso; who pulled the whole move together and kept all of us on track - it seemed seamless to us (but not for her!). The new office is beautiful including all the new office furniture she was able to get donated to EHC!! Thank you Gail from all of us!
Look for an invite to our Open House in the fall!
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Did you know?
| CT ranks 8th in the nation for the number of low- income children receiving summer nutrition.
Still, over 108,000 or 75% of CT children do not participate!
There's still time!
Visit ctsummerfood.org and spread the word!
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 | | About US | End Hunger CT! Inc. is dedicated to ending hunger and promoting healthy nutrition by promoting access to federal nutrition assistance programs, speaking out to raise awareness of hunger in the state of Connecticut, and advocating for positive change of local, state and national programs.
We provide SNAP outreach/training and assistance in Hartford, New London, Tolland, and Windham counties. Child nutrition services include Summer Food Service Program, After-School Snack, and School Breakfast outreach and assistance. Learn about our CT No Kid Hungry Campaign here. Have a question? Here's how to reach our staff!
SNAP
SNAP Program Manager
Suzette Strickland
860.560.2100 ext. 305
SNAP Administrative Assistant
Maggie Chacon
860.560.2100 ext. 302
Hartford/Tolland Counties Sherry Suber
860.560.2100 ext. 306 SNAP Bi-Lingual Advocate-Hartford Xiomi Ramirez- Mercado
860.560.2100 ext. 308 Windham County
Mike Rouleau
860.874.5349
New London County
Tommy McKissick
860.449.2053
Child Nutrition Programs and Policy Dawn Crayco 860.560.2100 ext. 303
CT No Kid Hungry Campaign Shannon Robins 860.560.2100 ext. 309 Executive Director Lucy Nolan
860.560.2100 ext. 304 Office Management Gail Corso
860.560.2100 ext. 311 |
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Summer Food in the News
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CNN Coverage
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USDA Announces New Nutrition Guidance
| Out with the Old...
...and in with the New! 
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| EHC! Launches CT No Kid Hungry Campaign
This past spring, End Hunger CT!, Governor Dannel P. Malloy, USDA's Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Under Secretary Kevin Concannon, State Senate President Don Williams and State Speaker of the House Christopher Donovan joined a diverse group of community leaders, chefs and education leaders to announce the launch of the Connecticut No Kid Hungry® Campaign.
The Campaign is a statewide public-private partnership led by End Hunger Connecticut! and Share Our Strength® aimed at ending childhood hunger by 2015 in the state by significantly increasing participation in federally-funded food and nutrition programs over the next five years.
As one of it's first-year priorities of the Campaign, End Hunger CT! set a goal of increasing the number of summer meals served by 10 percent, or 150,000 additional meals. Strategies include; ensuring there are enough locations, launching a website featuring a summer meals location finder, and providing outreach grants to help organizations start up or expand summer meals programs. Click here for more information on the Campaign. Share our Strength is a not-for-profit organization that mobilizes individuals and industries to fight hunger though it's signature programs, such as Taste of the Nation, Cooking Matters (formerly known as Operation Frontline), and the Great American Bake Sale.
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New Website: EHC! Unveils New Summer Food Website for Connecticut No Kid Hungry!
Visit www.CTSummerFood.org for everything Summer Food. This new interactive website helps families and providers find summer meal locations where all children 18 and under can enjoy free and healthy meals all summer long.
Features of the website include: - Location/Site Finder with mapping feature
- Details about each site including meals served and dates and times of service
- Driving, walking, public transit, or bike directions to sites
- Frequently Asked Questions about Summer Food
- Other resources for food in Connecticut
- Information about the Connecticut No Kid Hungry Campaign and its activities
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Nutrition Education and Summer Food Go Hand-In-Hand
Engaging activities act as magnets for kids & teens, attracting them to summer food sites for free fun and nutritious food. This year, EHC!, through generous funding from the Walmart Foundation,has been providing summer food sites with nutrition education activities all over Connecticut. Kristen Chasse, a registered dietitian and UConn Grad Student, has been bringing "Kristen's Korner" across the state to give lessons on topics ranging from whole grains to dairy and physical activity. Each lesson includes a demo and sampling of a healthy snack like fresh smoothies or homemade hummus. Kristen also provides recipes, menus and tips for healthy eating while introducing children and families to USDA's new MyPlate Initiative.
 | | Fruit and Cereal Parfaits |
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Whole Grain Trail Mix
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SNAP Update
With SNAP participation at the highest it's ever been - both nationally and in Connecticut - our SNAP e-Fax program is really taking off. We have expanded the program from just the Hartford DSS office to all the DSS offices in the state. This project, funded by a USDA SNAP Participation grant, allows SNAP outreach advocates to fax applications to an e-mail account at the appropriate DSS office. SNAP e-Fax provides an electronic trail of the application - helping us to make certain that the application was complete and that the correct start date for benefits is used.
EHC! staff is out in the community training our state SNAP partners to use the SNAP e-Fax program, such as; the Hispanic Health Council, the Connecticut Association of Human Services, Foodshare, New Haven Community Action Agency, and the Immaculate Conception shelter among others. If your organization receives a lot of SNAP referrals, please contact Suzette Strickland, at 860.560.2100 ext. 305 or sstrickland@endhungerct.org, to learn more about using SNAP e-Fax.
Although the SNAP e-Fax system has made huge strides towards streamlining the administrative process for regular SNAP benefits, Connecticut has been cited by the USDA for slow response time on processing cases for SNAP applicants needing expedited (emergency) SNAP benefits and who may not have a phone. To address this issue, the DSS Southern Regional Office has instituted a new practice in partnership with EHC!. SNAP applicants come to EHC!'s office at designated times each week. During those times, the DSS Southern Regional Office calls the EHC! office and interviews applicants who need expedited SNAP benefits - so they can get the benefit within the 7 days wait period (defined by USDA) and make sure that those who have little else will at least get food.
Given the unprecedented number of people accessing the SNAP program, our SNAP Outreach Advocates are noticing that processing SNAP redeterminations (the paperwork that SNAP users must send in to DSS once a year to verify certain information) at the state level is taking longer than expected. Unfortunately, the delay at the state level is causing people to lose their SNAP benefits. State workers are inundated with SNAP cases, making it impossible for them to keep up with the number of redeterminations being submitted. Additionally, if the SNAP recipient's information is not entered in a timely manner, or, if something is missing, the benefit is stopped. EHC! is helping clients submit cases on time and with all of the supporting documents needed, yet they are being denied for "failure to complete redetermination." EHC! staff met with the new DSS Commissioner Roderick Bremby and was happy that he is open to all new ideas to move the paperwork in a more cohesive fashion. If you have clients who have lost their benefits because of "failure to complete redetermination" give us a call for help.
For more information on SNAP eligibility go to www.ctfoodstamps.org or call the toll-free SNAP phone line at 1-866-974-SNAP (7627).
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Truck Serving Free Meals to Kids & Teens Hits Streets of New Haven
Generously donated by United Way to New Haven Public Schools, the Summer Food Truck will deliver free, nutritious meals to New Haven kids and teens, 18 & under, throughout the rest of summer. New Haven School Food and United Way are partners in the Connecticut No Kid Hungry Campaign, led by EHC!, Governor Malloy, and Share Our Strength.
 | | Truck Serving Free Summer Meals to Kids & Teens Hits Streets of New Haven. |
More pictures here.
In New Haven, more than 75% of the students qualified for free and reduced price school meals in 2010. Summer can be one of the toughest times for families relying on school food programs to help them make ends meet. Luckily, there is summer food.
Often, the biggest barrier for kids and teens to participate in the free summer meals program is simply not being able to get there. United Way and New Haven School Food are tackling the transportation barrier by bringing meals to kids and teens where they live.
Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman participated in the kick-off event for the New Haven Summer Food Truck program on July 25th to help make sure that there is No Kid Hungry in Connecticut!
Visit the New Haven School Food Blog for more information about the New Haven Summer Meals Truck; including the locations and times that the Truck will be providing meals.
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My, Have We Grown!
EHC! would like you to join us in welcoming our newest staff members.
Tommy McKissick, Jr.
After more than ten years working for the CT Department of Social Services as an Eligibility Services Supervisor, Wallace "Tommy" McKissick, Jr. joins the EHC! team to further educate and assist individuals and families through outreach and advocacy. We're happy to have Tommy as our New London Country SNAP Outreach Advocate.
Rayxiomara Ramirez-Mercado
Our newest SNAP outreach advocate, Xiomi Ramirez-Mercado brings experience in working for CT Department of Children and Families along with her string roots in community work within New Britain. She is bilingual with an education background in sociology.
Shannon Robins
With a background in hunger and food policy, nonprofit management, and advocacy, Shannon comes to us as the Manager of State Policy & Partnerships from the national anti-hunger organization, Feeding America.As the Connecticut No Kid Hungry Campaign Manager she is leading our statewide campaign with the Office of the Governor to achieve specific and measurable goals to increase participation in the federal nutrition programs touching kids & teens.
Mike Rouleau
A recent graduate of Eastern Connecticut State University, Mike Rouleau is our new Northeast CT SNAP Outreach Advocate. As Editor-In-Chief and Managing Editor of ECSU's The Campus Lantern, Mike gained perspective in various social injustices and became fueled to embark on a service-oriented and humanitarian career path.
Sherry Suber
Sherry Suber comes to EHC! with experience in customer service, recruitment, and human resources. She has a passion for helping others and has already made her mark in the Hartford Community. Sherry's SNAP outreach coverage area is Hartford County, including New Britain.
Summer Staff
Sarah Bourque, RD
A recent UConn Master's Graduate, Sarah has spent the summer working on CT No Kid Hungry's summer food goal through outreach and marketing activities. She assisted in website development and targeted program outreach, often presenting to community organizations on the benefits and availability of summer food.
Kristen Chasse, RD
Kristen has spent her summer being paid to have fun in the sun with children and giving healthy food demos. Her experience in community nutrition and fun spirit have made her a wonderful resource for summer food sponsors and parents looking for healthy eating/buying tips and recipes.
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EHC! recommends using the following companies who contributed greatly to a smooth move!
Associated Security Corporation 860.528.9674 Wayne Eric (moving, handyman, landscaping) 860.597.7894
Kennedy's Plumbing & Heating, Inc. 860.296.4867 Tim New England Lock & Key 860.357.5527 Wes
O,R&L Commercial
860.550.4744 Carol
U.S. Communications
860.871.7257 Ken
Xobal, Inc. www.xobal.net Ed |
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Lucy Nolan
End Hunger Connecticut!
Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, political beliefs, or disability.
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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