A visit to New Haven and the CT Food Bank

I can’t believe my time here with EHC! is up – this past month flew by! I’m so grateful for all of the different experiences I was able to have as I was sent around CT to meet with various SNAP advocates, school food service directors, the Connecticut Food Bank, Foodshare, and members of the community interested in expanding federal food programs. Each week was full of new people and places – our last week being no exception.

On Wednesday, Mariam and I had the opportunity to spend the day in New Haven to visit Connecticut Food Bank and the New Haven School Food Service Department. At the Connecticut Food Bank we met with Phaedra Ebron, the Child Nutrition Coordinator. Phedra is responsible for the food bank’s Backpack Program, which provides a weekend food supply to children in need. I had been very curious to learn more about the logistics of the program and to find out more about the program’s future goals. Phaedra was extremely helpful in answering all our questions – from how she choose what types of food goes into the backpacks to how she sees the program expanding in the future. The time and effort put into running such a large operation (over 700 students throughout CT are served by their Backpack Program) is immense and I was so impressed at the thought put into each of the program’s details. The food distributed is personally selected and purchased by the Connecticut Food Bank, with an emphasis on healthy meal choices a child can prepare themselves (easy to open, no cooking necessary). While the overall goal of the program is to make sure children do not go hungry during the weekend, it was refreshing to see an emphasis placed on nutritious foods rather than providing many of the less healthy convenience foods.

I also enjoyed how the program expanded into more of an educational role by providing nutrition information and recipes in the backpacks on occasion. I can see much more potential for other provisions, like information on the SNAP program and listings of local food pantries, in the backpacks as well. Why limit the backpack’s contents to food? Numerous other companies and organizations could be utilized to provide much needed goods and services, like hygienic products, clothing, winter items, etc. The Connecticut Food Bank seems to be heading their program in this direction, as they currently provide donated toothpaste and toothbrushes in the backpacks. As I realize the need for programs like the Backpack Program is ever growing, I asked if the Connecticut Food Bank planned on (or was even capable of) expanding their services to more schools. Despite limited resources and a dwindling economy, Phaedra did not seem concerned with the Connecticut Food Bank’s ability to reach even more children. She expressed her hopes to expand the Backpack Program to several of the food bank’s satellite warehouses, recruiting more volunteers, and gaining more funding/donations so they may provide backpacks to every child who needs it. It is truly heartwarming to know there are people in the community who care about those in need and are willing to donate their time and money to ensure they are reached. I hope to see the program continue to expand and possibly get myself involved in the future!

There’s never a dull moment when you’re an intern at End Hunger Connecticut! This week we were able to shadow Carl as he went around the Willimantic area doing outreach work and informing folks about the changes in the SNAP program. We went to the DSS office, as well as Generations, a federally granted health center that provides medical services to individuals and families with little to no health insurance coverage. The services are provided at minimum cost to people. One of the administrators of the organization estimated that the services provided by the health center average around $20 for one visit. However, a patient received many services under this fee, all in one visit. If they required these services elsewhere, they may end up paying $200!
I am always amazed when I am able to observe organizations like Generations and the work that they do. They remind me of my visit to the Hispanic Health Council in Hartford a few months back. These organizations work so hard, so selflessly, to help promote health in their often-forgotten communities. I am always amazed by the hard work that individuals and organizations put in to improve the quality of life for others in their communities. I can definitely see how dietitians can help these communities to try and raise awareness about nutrition, as well as facilitate access to an adequate food supply and healthcare. As the daughter of immigrants to the United States, I really appreciate the work that such organizations are doing, not only for their own particular ethnic groups, but for others as well. I would love to contribute to such a cause in the future. While I was at this site, my mind was filled with many ideas and thoughts about how I might incorporate what I had seen and learned at the health center in the future. I would love to try and open a health council for other minorities as well, especially people from a South Asian or Middle Eastern background. Despite the fact that this population has been in the U.S. now for many decades, with many second- and third-generation citizens, I do not know of any such health councils in Connecticut that specifically cater to the needs of this population. I felt that visiting this site really opened my eyes to many options that are possible for a community dietitian, and I think that it is a valuable place for future students to visit as well, especially if they are interested in working more with the community.