Press Release: Connecticut Food Bank Faces Critical Food Shortage
HARTFORD, CT—Connecticut Foodshare, the state’s largest food bank, urgently seeks donations after losing 34 truckloads—approximately 1.4 million pounds—of food from the federal government’s Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). CEO Jacob Jakubowski emphasized the severe impact this drop has on local food pantries, stating, "You’ll end up walking away with less food than you would’ve one or two years ago."
To address the growing needs, Jakubowski is advocating for increased state support, requesting $10 million in each of the next two fiscal years. However, the current budget offers only $2.5 million for year one and $5 million for year two. He warned that potential cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could have wide-reaching negative effects on both recipients and local businesses reliant on these benefits.
In response, local organizations like the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen (DESK) are feeling the pinch with a 30% drop in food supplies from Connecticut Foodshare. Executive Director Steve Werlin noted challenges in meal planning due to unstable deliveries and called for community-driven food drives to fill the gaps.
Support is crucial to combat hunger and maintain food security across Connecticut.
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