Six days into the SNAP suspension, the story around Connecticut is pretty much the same all over: lines of cars stretching down suburban streets, hundreds of people waiting in parking lots and lots of anxiety.
With no new Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program dollars going out for November, pending release by the Trump administration, the 360,000 Connecticut residents who qualify for the federal aid are turning to food pantries to put food on the table.
Bruce Hay of the Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse, who organizes a Foodshare mobile distribution in Putnam, saw 419 cars this week, up from 330 the week before. The line wound down the road and spilled out onto Route 44, clogging traffic.
United Way of Greater New Haven volunteers at the Hamden Mobile Pantry “served a record number of guests — 250 households, many there for the first time. This morning, our volunteers at the Farnam Mobile Pantry also saw more guests than ever, with 190 households served,” the United Way chapter reported.
In Avon Tuesday, the Foodshare distribution at the Farmington Valley American Muslim Center served 139 people — the highest number ever seen at the site.
While a fraction of those people had previously gotten help from food pantries (the average monthly SNAP benefit is $190 per person), many had not. Gov. Ned Lamont allocated $3 million in funding to Foodshare, which provides local pantries with food but that number is a fraction of the monthly SNAP benefits and food pantries are struggling to keep up with the demand.
“Until money is loaded on to people’s cards we are going to be here continuing to do what we’re doing and we’re going to be in crisis mode,” Jason Jakubowski, Foodshare CEO and president, said this week. “I was out at some of our mobile sites today. We’re seeing double the lines” at a number of locations.
“We’re seeing double the number of people, we’re trying to get double the amount of food in and out of this building and we appreciate everything you’re able to do to help us at Connecticut Foodshare,” he said.
How to help
Give money
- Food pantries, including Foodshare and Midwest Food Bank, can stretch a dollar further than shoppers heading to the grocery store. Sometimes food is donated by grocery stores or suppliers and Foodshare needs funds to pick up donated food and deliver it. As a result, direct donations are the most useful.
- Many food pantries also have Amazon wish lists (check websites) with items that are most needed. Those items can be purchased online and delivered directly to the pantry.
- Give gift cards. Food pantry operators can use gift cards to buy the items they are missing and more.
Hold a food drive
Anyone can hold a food drive at their work or church, in their neighborhood or with friends. Simply spread the word, gather donations and deliver them to a nearby food pantry.
Many town food pantries also have food collection boxes at the front of local grocery stores. Pantry leaders suggest looking out for buy-one-get-one deals or just buying double some items that you choose for your own household and dropping them in the boxes on your way out.
State Rep. Eleni Kavros DeGraw of Avon is hosting a food drive with Shop Rite and Gifts of Love on Saturday. In a note to constituents, she says, “Please consider donating Shop Rite gift cards as those help the pantry “fill in the blanks” on their shelves and in their freezer.”
According to Connecticut Foodshare, the state’s partner in providing food through the shutdown, “The most cost-effective and impactful way to donate food is through a “virtual” food drive (VFD). VFDs enable Connecticut Foodshare to save on resources and source the most needed foods. For more information, please go to ctfoodshare.org/donate/ways-to-give/donate-food.”
Donate food to local pantries
Many food pantries rely on and distribute donated food. Canned fruits and vegetables, pasta and sauce, rice and beans, cereal and oatmeal, peanut butter and jelly, cooking oil, snacks and canned meats are often requested staples. Personal hygiene items are also appreciated. Some websites offer lists of most needed items.
Simsbury’s Food Pantry: First Church of Christ, 689 Hopmeadow St., in Palmer Hall. 860-658-3283. simsbury-ct.gov/social-services
Pantry Partners of St. Catherines of Siena: 265 Stratton Brook Road, West Simsbury. 860-658-1642 0vnva.sites.ecatholic.com/how-to-make-a-donation
Gifts of Love Avon: 34 East Main St., Avon. 860-676-2323 giftsoflovect.org
Farmington Food Pantry: 75 Main St., Amistad Hall (Lobby of First Church of Christ). 860-674-8694 ffpct.org
West Hartford Food Pantry: 50 South Main St., Room 130. 860- 561-7580 westhartfordct.gov/town-departments/social-services/food-pantry
Fern Street Food Ministry Food Pantry and Community Kitchen: 433 Fern St., West Hartford. 860-233-3669 x109. westhartforduu.org/fern-street-food-ministry
Anja Rosenberg Kosher Food Pantry: 333 Bloomfield Ave., Suite A, West Hartford. 860-236-1927 jfshartford.org/anja-rosenberg-kosher-food-pantry
Hands On Hartford: 55 Bartholomew Ave., Hartford. 860-728-3201 handsonhartford.org/r
Bloomfield Food Bank: 330 Park Ave. 860-242-1895 bloomfieldct.gov/425/Food-Resources
Plainville Food Pantry: 54 S Canal St. (860) 747-1919 plainvillefoodpantry.org
St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Bristol: 19 Jacobs St., Bristol. 860-589-9098 svdpofbristol.com
Meals for Neighbors: 27 Judd St., Bristol. 860-589-7744 meals-for-neighbors.constantcontactsites.com
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church food pantry: 90 Main St., New Britain. 860-225-7634 stmarksnewbritain.org/Food-Pantry
New Britain Spanish Seventh Day Adventist Food Pantry: 94 West Main St. 860-225-9218 newbritainspanishct.adventistchurch.org
Salvation Army – New Britain Corps: 78 Franklin Square, New Britain. 860-225-8491 easternusa.salvationarmy.org/southern-new-england/new-britain
HRA New Britain Food & Resource Center: 550 Farmington Ave., New Britain. 860-827-8402 hranbct.org/programs/emergency-assistance/new-britain-food-and-resource-center
Klingberg Family Pantry: 370 Linwood St., New Britain. 860-832-5532 klingberg.org
Berlin Food Pantry: 240 Kensington Road. 860-828-7059 town.berlin.ct.us
Newington Food Pantry: 200 Garfield St. 860-665-8590 newingtonct.gov/2281/Food-Bank
The Bridge Food Pantry: 400 Chapel Road, Unit 1J, South Windsor. 860-372-4141 oursaviorct.org/groups/the-bridge
Windsor Food and Fuel Bank: 599 Matianuck Ave. 860-285-1839 windsorfoodbank.org
MACC Charities Community Emergency Food Pantry: 460 Main St., Manchester. 860-647-8003 ext. 128 macc-ct.org
CHR Hub Pantry: 520 Center St., Manchester. 860-730-8780 chrhealth.org or https://a.co/fLiHVSY
Crystal Lake Food Pantry: 265 Sandy Beach Road, Ellington. 860-306-9669 facebook.com/clfpellington
HVCC Food Pantry: 29 Naek Road Suite 5A, Vernon. 860-872-7727 hvcchelps.org/pantry
Cornerstone Food Cupboard: 15 Prospect St., Vernon. 860-871-1823 cornerstone-cares.org/foodcupboard
To find food
- Call 211 or 800-203-1234, or visit 211ct.org to find a local food pantry through the United Way’s 211.
- Visit ctfoodshare.org/find-food to view a map and lists of mobile food pantries nearby.
- Text FOODSHARE to 85511. When prompted, enter the first three letters of the town name to find times and locations of local mobile pantry sites.