Foodshare is leading an informed, coordinated response to hunger in our community. Foodshare is the Feeding America food bank serving Connecticut’s Hartford and Tolland counties, where 118,000 people struggle with hunger. In partnership with the food industry, donors, community leaders, and volunteers, Foodshare works to maximize access to nutritious food and other resources that support food security. Last year, Foodshare distributed more than 11 million meals worth of food to a network of 280 local food pantries, meal programs, and Mobile Foodshare sites. And, because it takes more than food to end hunger, Foodshare collaborates with anti-hunger organizations, policymakers, and the broader community to build effective solutions to end hunger.
COVID-19 and Foodshare
In the past 7 months, since COVID-19 changed everyone’s lives, Foodshare has distributed 5.6 million pounds of food to 200,000 cars, which translates to 4.7 million meals.
Who can volunteer?
You! There are many locations that need volunteers
In addition, Mobile Foodshare can be found throughout Hartford and Tolland Counties, including Foodshare Headquarters in Bloomfield, Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Enfield’s Food Shelf, E. Windsor’s St. Catherine Church, West Hartford Universalist Church, E. Hartford’s Hockanum Park, Plainville’s Norton Park, New Britain’s Mobile Foodshare, Southington’s The Tabernacle, South Congregational Church Granby, Hopewell Baptist in Windsor, United Congregational Church of Tolland, Mt. Moriah Baptist Hartford, Greater Hartford Host Lions Club Bloomfield, Charter oak Community Health Center Salvation Army Hartford, Squire Village Manchester, St. George Episcopal Church Bolton, Hebron Interfaith Human Services, Park West Apartments Vernon, W. Suffield Congregational Church, Andover Congregational Church, First Congregational Coventry. Sign up to volunteer at their website. Sign-ups can be individually or by group/company.
Who can obtain this food?
Rentschler Field distribution: Anyone who shows up at Rentschler Field in East Hartford during food distribution hours, 8 – 12:30 Tuesdays and Thursdays. Distribution is set up as no contact, drive-through, with volunteers placing the food into the trunks of cars. Food includes fruits and vegetables, cheese, yogurt, milk, and bread, as well as other staples such as butter and cooking necessities. No I.D., no registration, no questions asked. If someone needs to drive through more than once, that is allowed. In addition, at Rentschler field there is free COVID testing, Monday through Friday. In addition, there is information about Access HealthCT.
Turkey and Thirty Campaign.
Each November, the Foodshare community comes together to collect enough Thanksgiving turkeys for local families in need, plus funds to help fight hunger year-round. You can organize a drive, donate, or volunteer.
Bank of America is a Partner to Foodshare
With so many families home from work, schools going remote, and rising unemployment rates, there has been an unprecedented increase in food insecurity throughout our communities. As the demand for food increases daily, Foodshare is experiencing a strain on resources. By joining forces with Bank of America, Foodshare can continue its mission to help alleviate hunger in the Greater Hartford region. The bank’s donation will allow Foodshare to continue providing food to thousands of families throughout Hartford and Tolland counties who are now food insecure because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The key players throughout this crisis have been Foodshare’s community members, donors, and volunteers who continue to step up to help fill the need. With help from community partners, Foodshare can actively adjust its operations in response to this state of emergency and as new expenses are incurred daily. The aid from Bank of America will help provide over 100,000 meals to people who are desperately in need right now.
“We’re so grateful for the decades-long partnership between Foodshare and Bank of America, and their continued commitment to addressing hunger in Greater Hartford. This gift will help us continue to respond to the incredible need during the COVID-19 crisis,” said Jason Jakubowski, President, and CEO of Foodshare.
Recent survey results conducted by Foodshare at their emergency drive-thru food distributions at Rentschler Field and The Hartford Regional Market show that over 70% of households attending these distributions have lost their jobs or had their hours cut due to the coronavirus. During the past month, nearly 7 out of 10 people had to choose between paying for food and paying other bills. For many people coming to the new drive-thru food distribution, this is their first time receiving assistance from Foodshare.
“No family should have to choose between paying for food or paying their bills,” said Joe Gianni, Hartford Market President for Bank of America. “Committing our resources to local communities and addressing the immediate needs of our neighbors during this time is a priority for Bank of America, along with supporting our clients and employees. Thank you, Foodshare, for making sure every family can have food on their table.”
If you’d like to sign up to volunteer, visit https://foodshare.volunteerhub.com/
Sponsors and Board Members of Foodshare also include many MetroHartford Alliance investors including Cigna, HalloranSage, Nassau Re, Capital Community College, Travelers, Kaoud, American Eagle Financial, and Stanley Black & Decker.