CFB Happenings

Online Pledges Surpass $1,500:  Participants in Connecticut Food Bank's two Walk Against Hunger events have secured more than $1,500 using our safe and secure online pledge website. The donation link on the Walk Against Hunger website makes it easy for you to join in our mission to alleviate hunger in our community.

Now It's Your Turn!  Don't forget to sign up to Walk Against Hunger.  All it takes is a few easy steps.

• Register yourself or your team on-line at the Walk Against Hunger website today.
• Create Your Page:  On-line registration is a safe and secure way to build a fundraising page for free. From your Walk page you can easily add photos, set a fundraising goal and e-mail friends and family to sponsor you – they can make a donation to you right on your page.
• Join THE CHALLENGE: Recruit your friends, family, co-workers or neighbors to join your team and CHALLENGE friends or rivals to do the same. Then, see who can recruit a larger team – raise more money – or give more volunteer hours.  Bragging rights are at stake.

Waterbury - Sunday, April 27:  Onsite registration at the corner of Grand and Meadow Streets at Library Park.

New Haven - Sunday, May 4:  Onsite registration is at the corner of Cold Spring and Orange Streets at East Rock Park.

At both events, registration is at 1 p.m. and the Walks begin at 2 p.m., rain or shine.   

In March, the Easter Bunny Arrived Early:  United Egg Producers and America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network partnered to provide an unprecedented donation of 12 million eggs to food banks nationwide.  Connecticut Food Bank was the beneficiary of 542 cases of eggs, totaling more than 195,000 eggs, which we provided to area hunger relief organizations.

Eggs are a versatile, easy-to-cook protein that provide choline, folate, iron and zinc, necessities for building muscle strength in children and preventing muscle loss in the older generations.  CFB Executive Director Nancy Carrington was overjoyed by the donation, stating, "We are thrilled to receive this generous donation of eggs." She also thanked all egg producers for "donating fresh eggs that will feed a great number of our neighbors in need."

Hunger in the News

Farm Bill Stalled:  Congress has been granted an extension until April 18 to pass a working Farm Bill as members reconvene after a two-week break this week.  This extension means that food banks across the nation are still receiving government assistance according to 2002 standards.  Congress and the White House are looking at ways to reconcile a $10 billion spending increase.  Should the deadline pass, the President will have the authority to extend the current bill for one full year. 

This news arrives as The New York Times reports Department of Labor findings that food prices rose 5.1% in 2007, the worst grocery inflation in the country since the early 1990s.  Milk prices were up 17%, while other staples such as cheese, bread, pasta and rise all rose at rates higher than 10%.  The Times reports that experts predict food prices to keep rising as farms continue to experience the financial pinch of production.

CFB needs readers to continue to speak out about maintaining the House-approved level of $250 million annually, with indexing to account for changes in the economy.  To contact your Senators and Representatives or for ideas on writing letters to the editor of your local newspapers, please visit America's Second Harvest's Hunger Action Center.

Success Story

Kids in Danbury to Benefit from Grant:  The Albert W. & Helen C. Meserve Memorial Fund has awarded $5,000 to Connecticut Food Bank to benefit the Kids' BackPack Program in Danbury.  This grant will provide food to sixty public school students attending Morris Street, Hayestown, Pembroke, Roberts Avenue, Shelter Rock, Broadview, Great Plain, Mill Ridge, and Park Avenue schools.

The Kids' BackPack Program was initiated here in 2005 and became an official national program of America's Second Harvest a year later.  In cooperation with Danbury schools, Connecticut Food Bank provides nutritious, kid-friendly food for students to take home during weekends when school resources are not available.  In addition to Danbury Public Schools, Connecticut Food Bank’s Kids’ BackPack Program works with Bridgeport, Derby, Middletown, New Haven, and Stratford school systems. 

Special Thanks...

To Julie Rio:  From October 1999 to this past March, Julie Rio served as Development Director at Connecticut Food Bank.  She has left the food bank to take on the task of initiating development projects for the YWCA of New Britain.  According to Nancy Carrington, Julie met or exceeded her fundraising goals each year and helped to grow the development department.  Echoing the sentiments of many, Senior Warehouse Assistant Lenny Eaton said, "Working with her was a pleasure.  She was able to be serious about her job, but funny at the same time." 

To the Community:  In March, vandals stole the catalytic converter from one of CFB's trucks.  This created an unforeseen expense for us, but kindness prevailed in the community.  A local truck dealership lowered its repair fee, and after The New Haven Register printed a story about our misfortune, a generous donor provided us with the funds to cover our bill.  Thanks to all who have helped us put our resources where they are needed most - feeding our neighbors in need.