Newsletter 
  August 2015
Summer Recap
EHC! Completes Fruitful Summer Blitz Week

'Blitz' outreach week is a prized tradition at End Hunger Connecticut! that kicks off the start of Summer Meals season. From June 20-June 26, EHC! staffers and over 200 volunteers went door-to-door in New Haven, Thompson, Windsor, Stamford, Hartford, and Plainville and asked local businesses and community organizations to help promote Summer Meals in their communities. The federal Summer Meals Programs ensure children throughout CT have access to healthy meals in the summer and help relieve families whose children rely on the USDA National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program for nutritious meals during the school year. Thank you to the communities that welcomed us and to everyone who volunteered and helped us make noise about Summer Meals! We're excited to see you again next year.

 

Blitz Week had quite an impact on everyone involved. Meet our two Summer Meals Youth Ambassadors, Julianna Bologa and Alana Davidson, and hear their perspective on the experience. 

 

"I can honestly say that these events, programs, and organizations are changing the lives of people, and easing the burden of those who are food insecure."


"Nothing beats that one-on-one communication, which allowed me to take the time to explain the program to people and get out and see firsthand the communities I am working with."
Alana (left) and Julianna (right)  

Summit Focuses on Racial Equity in the Food System

  

Jessica Mahon, Program Liaison, and Senator Marilyn Moore, Board Member, both attended the 5th annual New England Food Summit held from June 11-12, 2015 in Boston, MA. This event was sponsored by Food Solutions New England, a collaborative network that aims to create a more equal and sustainable food system across the six New England states. This year's focus was on racial equity in the food system, as well as economic justice with an emphasis on food chain workers.

 

"New Englanders can and should pursue a future in which food nourishes a social, economic, and environmental landscape that supports a high quality of life for everyone, for generations to come." Learn more about this year's Food Summit here.

 

2015 New England Food Summit in Boston, MA (Photo by Food Solutions New England)

Policy
 Connecticut Food Policy Council Convenes Local, State and Federal Leaders to Discuss IRS Rules for Hospitals and Food Insecurity
Speakers from left to right: Lucy Nolan, USDA Undersecretary Kevin Concannon, Kim Gans, Marydale Debor, Seth Berkowitz, Martha Page, and Kola Akindele.

In May, the Connecticut Food Policy Council convened CT hospitals, local food policy councils, public health experts, medical professionals, and other community-based organizations to hear from leading national experts on the subject of  "Hospital-Community Collaboration for Community Health:  Expanding Access to Nutritious Foods".  

The statewide meeting was in response to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) final ruling regarding non-profit hospitals' community health needs assessment obligations allowing for issues regarding food security as well as opportunities to explore and to strengthen collaboration at the community level.
 
Moderated by CT Food Policy Council vice-chair and EHC! executive director Lucy Nolan, presentations from experts in the field included:
  • Marydale Debor, JD, Fresh Advantage spoke on the new changes in the law and why it's important to communities.
  • Kevin Concannon, USDA Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition & Consumer Services
  • Seth Berkowitz, MD, MPH, faculty member of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital who will speak on the health impacts of food insecurity, malnutrition and population health.
  • Kim Gans, Ph.D., MPH, LDN, Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at UConn  who spoke on her research on mobile farmers' markets.
  • Kola Akindele, JD, Community Relations Manager, of Hartford Hospital with
  • Martha Page, MPH, CPH, Executive Director of Hartford Food System and Chair of Hartford Advisory Council on Food Policy who will present the "Hartford Mobile Market" a "community benefit" project of the hospital, in collaboration with HFS, Hartford Hispanic Council and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation.
At least one local food policy council began working with their local hospital as on outcome of the convening!
 
CT Food Policy Council members and partners organizing committee included Lucy Nolan (Vice-chair of the CFPC) and Jessica Mahon (CFPC staff) , End Hunger CT!; Martha Page, Hartford Food System; Marydale Debor, Fresh Advantage, Alicia Santilli, New Haven Food Policy Council; Peggy Zamore, Danbury and Marcia Mallard, DPH.  

Find out more at the CT Food Policy Council webpage and visit its Facebook page for pictures and updated activities.
SNAP
Stepping Up to the Plate for Seniors

 

In May 2015, EHC! received a grant from the National Council on Aging (NCOA) to enroll underserved seniors, age 60 or older, on SNAP. According to NCOA, for 1 in 6 seniors, hunger is a real struggle. With this grant, EHC! SNAP Advocates are stepping up for seniors. Brian Johnson, SNAP Outreach Coordinator, has been visiting senior housing sites throughout CT to spread awareness about how EHC!'s SNAP Call Center can help their residents with applications and renewals.


 Brian's efforts have yielded results! One caller, Walter, was struggling to make ends meet on just a $900 Social Security check per month. After calling our call center and completing the application over the phone, he stated, "I didn't know this would be so easy. I would have done this a long time ago." He qualified for over $140 per month in SNAP benefits.

Easier Way for SNAP Participants to Locate Farm Fresh Produce

The USDA recently released an updated listing of farmers markets that accept SNAP benefits. Over 30 farmers markets in every county in CT accept SNAP as payment for their fresh and local fruits and vegetables. Click here to see which farmers markets accept SNAP. 

 

New Report on Food Advertising to Hispanic and Black Youth

The UConn Rudd Center, the African American Collaborative Obesity Research Network (AACORN), and Salud America! released new report entitled

The report finds food companies disproportionately target their TV advertising for fast food, candy, sugary drink and snack brands to black and Hispanic consumers and are also significantly less likely to target black and Hispanic consumers with advertising for healthier products such as yogurt and other dairy products, 100 percent juice, water, and fruits and vegetables.

Thank You!
Red Sox Foundation
End Hunger Connecticut! was recently awarded a $2,000 IMPACT Award from the Red Sox Foundation. Contributions were awarded to the top 3 charities with the highest number of votes in every New England state outside of Massachusetts. Thanks to all who voted! EHC! will also be listed in Red Sox Magazine and receive recognition on redsox.com and redsoxfoundation.org.

Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort
On Saturday, July 25, Powder Ridge hosted its first BBQ Cook Off fundraiser, and EHC! was proud to be a part of the excitement and the beneficiary of this event. Seven area BBQ restaurants were featured along with four celebrity judges, and the event also included a car show and other activities. Total turnout was around 250. It was a great day full of delicious food and fun!

 

News of Interest
 A Washington Post blog, The remarkably high odds you'll be poor at some point in your life, highlights the longest running longitudinal survey in America showing the likelihood that by the time Americans are 60 years old "nearly four in five people experience some kind of economic hardship: They've gone through a spell of unemployment, or spent time relying on a government program for the poor like food stamps, or lived at least one year in poverty or very close to it".  The blog also speaks to how demographics and race affect one's status with some interesting infographics.  A compelling reason to keep these programs healthy and available to all those that need them, or 4 out of 5 of us all.
Support End Hunger Connecticut!
End Hunger Connecticut!'s advocacy is funded by people like you.  As we head into the Child Nutrition Reauthorization your support will make sure your, our and CT kid's voices are heard!
We're 'Making Room at the Table' and we want you with us!
About Us
End Hunger Connecticut! 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 statewide SNAP and Child Nutrition Program outreach/training and assistance. Learn about our CT No Kid Hungry Campaign here.

Have a question?  Call us at (860) 560-2100  or e-mail endhunger@endhungerct.org 
Thank you for staying in touch!

Annie E Casey logo
Lucy Nolan  
End Hunger Connecticut! 

 

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