CT Food Bank Receives Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Grant

A $40,000 grant from the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation will increase the amount of donated, local produce available to community members supported by the Connecticut Food Bank.

The Healthy Food Fund grant will support a Farm-to-Pantry program that helps farmers harvest excess crops for donation to the Connecticut Food Bank. Connecticut’s nonprofit leader in the fight against hunger, the Connecticut Food Bank works with Connecticut food growers to source fresh produce for some 700 partners and programs that work to alleviate hunger for more than 300,000 people in six Connecticut counties.

“Thanks to the vision and support of the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation, hungry Connecticut residents will have access to more nutritional produce,” said Connecticut Food Bank Interim CEO Paul O’Leary.

O’Leary said many Connecticut farmers want to donate more produce but are challenged to harvest and transport time-intensive crops for donation. “The Farm-to-Pantry program helps us source highly desirable and nutritious produce and reduce food waste," he said.

More than 30 percent of the food distributed by the Connecticut Food Bank is fresh produce, in high demand by community-based food programs because of its nutritional value. “Locally grown food has so many benefits as we help our neighbors, strengthen our communities and support our farmers,” O’Leary said.

The Connecticut Food Bank distributes food through a network of partner agencies, including food pantries, soup kitchens, residential and day care programs in six Connecticut Counties. The Connecticut Food Bank also directly distributes food through its Mobile Pantry program; its GROW Up With Good Nutrition program for families with young children; the Kids’ BackPack program to bridge the weekend meal gap for children receiving free meals at school; and a supplemental foods program for income-limited seniors.

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Submitted by Fairfield, CT

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