New Survey Finds 14.6 Percent of Households in Connecticut Unable to Afford Enough Food in 2009

More than 14.6 percent of households in Connecticut reported not having enough money to buy food that they needed during the prior twelve months in 2009, according to a new report released by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC).

For the first time, data on food hardship – the inability to afford enough food – is available for every state, every Congressional District and for 100 of the country’s largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), including Connecticut MSAs Bridgeport–Stamford-Norwal

k, Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford and New Haven-Milford.

In households with children almost 1 in 5, or 18.7%, struggled to put food on the table. Each of the five Congressional Districts in Connecticut had more than one in ten residents reporting food hardship in 2008-2009. “This up to the moment data reaffirms what we’re seeing in local communities around the state – families are struggling in Connecticut. These findings increase the drumbeat that more must be done – and quickly, to help this state’s struggling families” said Lucy Nolan, executive director of End Hunger Connecticut!, a statewide anti-hunger organization.

The Department of Social Services reported earlier this month that there is an increase of 30% of new SNAP, or Food Stamp, participants over the last year. “Take a look around you and you’re likely to see someone in need of food today. I think this is as clear a call as possible that we need to ensure our friends, family and neighbors have access to the programs that help them – especially our children.”

The rate of food hardship decreased slightly in 2008 due to the decrease of the costs of food, and the increase in participation and benefits in the feeding programs. “These programs work – people in Connecticut have been slammed, like the rest of the country, but the SNAP program and school lunches were there for them” said Nolan.

The report analyzes survey data that were collected by Gallup and provided to FRAC. The ability to provide such localized data and such up-to-date data comes from Gallup’s partnership with Healthways, interviewing 1,000 households per day almost every day since January 2, 2008 as part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index project. Through December 2009, more than 650,000 people have been asked a series of questions on a range of topics including emotional health, physical health, healthy behavior, work environment and access to basic services. Specific to this report, more than 530,000 people were asked whether there were times over
the preceding year that they did not have enough money to buy food they or their family --- needed.

The Gallup survey question on food hardship is very similar to one posed by the Census Bureau and analyzed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in its official measure of food insecurity, but because of the sample size Gallup provides us with a closer, more localized and more recent look at food hardship. Official government data on food insecurity have a nearly one-year time lag and do not go below the state level.

“The data in this report show that food hardship – running out of money to buy the food that families need – is truly a national problem. It is a national problem in the sense that the rate for the nation is so high,” said Jim Weill, president of FRAC. “And it is a national problem in the sense that rates are high in virtually every state, Metropolitan Statistical Area, and Congressional District.”

These new numbers are especially relevant as Congress looks at jobs legislation and other strategies to mitigate the damage of the recession, and reauthorizes child nutrition legislation this year. End Hunger
Connecticut! has joined FRAC in calling for improvements in a range of federal nutrition programs, including SNAP/ Food Stamps and child nutrition programs, and for more efforts to boost the economy, create more well-paying jobs and reduce unemployment.

“President Obama has set a goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015,” said Nolan. “As we can see with this new up-to-date data, the struggle with hunger is a serious problem here in Connecticut for children and adults. Not a minute can be wasted between now and 2015 if we’re to reach that goal. All corners of government, the private sector and nonprofits must work together in order to implement long-term strategies that will battle our nation’s hunger crisis.”


The full report is available at www.frac.org

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Connecticut specific information:

Excerpted from “Food Hardship: A Closer Look at Hunger (Data for the Nation, States, 100 MSAs and Congressional Districts)" at www.frac.org


Food Hardship Rate Ranking

2009 14.6% 47/51
2008 16.0% 35/51


Food Hardship 2008-2009 by presence/absence of children under 18 years : 15.1%

W/out children: 13.3 With children 18.7%


Food Hardship in 2008-09 for 100 Largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA’s)

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT 14.1% 90/100
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT 14.5% 86/100
New Haven-Milford, CT 16.1% 75/100


Food Hardship (08-09) by presence or absence of children under 18 – 50 Largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas:

Hartford-West Hartford- East Hartford, CT w/out children 12.7% with children 18.1%


Rates of Food Hardship by Congressional District in Connecticut
District Congressperson Rate 2008/09 National Rank
1 Larson 15.2% 304/436
2 Courtney 12.8% 358/436
3 DeLauro 15.1% 309/436
4 Himes 12.1% 380/436
5 Murphy 16.0% 280/436

Food That's In When School is Out

Statewide, hunger affects tens of thousands of children who are used to getting free or reduced-price meals at school. The federal Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) fills this gap by providing free meals to kids 18 and under at schools, parks, recreation centers, and summer
camps. According to a recent report by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), an average of 2.9 million children were served nationally in July last summer, a 1.7% increase over the previous summer. There is no doubt hunger will hit families even harder due to the poor economy. Fortunately, this year there are more program sponsors and sites where kids can
go for a no cost meal-sometimes breakfast, lunch-or even supper.

To find a site nearest you, please call United Way 2-1-1 or End Hunger CT! at (860) 560-2100 ext. 303.
The Summer Food Service Program is administered by the Connecticut State Department of
Education and funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service.
For more information on Summer Food, e-mail dcrayco@endhungerct.org.

No Brag , Just Fact

Mom always said that bragging wasn’t nice. For the most part, I pretty much listened. But every once in a while you have to let people know about something really terrific. In that case, it’s not bragging, it’s just stating fact.

Case in point: Two Awards in two weeks!

March 25th, Suzette Strickland was honored by the Hartford Commission on the Permanent Status of Women with a reception and award at City Hall. Not more than 14 days later, the Hope Seventh Day Adventist Church also recognized Suzette with a “Thank You” plaque.

Suzette has been a passionate anti-hunger advocate for individuals and families in Hartford for almost eight years. Her outreach work at EHC! has helped hundreds of people access the food stamp program to put more food on their tables. Her work has been more of calling than a job.

I’ve been fortunate to work with Suzette doing SNAP outreach. I can’t say we’ve always seen eye-to-eye on our approach. There’s even been a time or two when we disagreed on a particular method or strategy to the point where I thought my head would explode. Happily, we managed to keep the room free of brain splatter by recognizing that we both want the same things. We want to make room at the table and put an end to hunger in Connecticut. No one works harder at that than Suzette; that’s a fact.

It’s nice to see others recognize her work. “Congratulations colleague”; or to put it in Suzette’s vernacular: “You Go Girl!”

-PTC

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.

The Beginnings of a Backpack Program

I recently had the opportunity to sit in on a Backpack Program planning meeting at the Foodshare warehouse in Bloomfield. The meeting was organized by Eunice Medwinter of the Hyacinth Williams Foundation for Children. Her organization is interested in starting a Backpack Program in one of Bloomfield’s elementary schools in the fall. This was the first meeting between her organization and Foodshare, who will be sponsoring the food donations. All of the legwork for this operation still needs to be determined- like where the food will be stored and sorted, which school will participate in the program, how many students will receive backpacks, who will volunteer to assemble them, etc. In a way, the meeting felt almost overwhelming because there are so many details to work out before the program can get its feet on the ground. Paul Fraleigh of Fraleigh & Gray, Inc. was in attendance, representing the First Congregation Church in Glastonbury. He was there to offer volunteer support and to assist in gaining corporate sponsorships to cover some of the program costs. Paul had some really great ideas about individualizing student backpacks to meet their family needs, which I think has the potential of being done once the program has been soundly established. At first, though, such a large task may be overwhelming and the volunteers’ efforts may be best concentrated on deciding who (in general) the backpacks are meant for – to feed the family or just the individual child.
While much of the details still need to be worked out, it was so exciting to hear a group of people discuss how they wanted to volunteer their time to reach out and feed hungry children. At the same time, I found it upsetting that there are so many children in need of services like the Backpack Program who aren’t being reached. I have high hopes for the Bloomfield program, which has the potential to spread into other district schools. I think the key of success for the program will be modeling itself after other successful Backpack programs in the area, like the one run by the Junior League. While the Bloomfield program may not have the same resources available as the Junior League, they can still model their program after theirs by incorporating other community resources into the bags. Information on state health insurance, SNAP funding, tips for healthy eating on a budget, coupons for local businesses, etc. could be included to help empower families in need of other services. I’m really looking forward to following up with the Bloomfield program in the fall to see how the program runs and how many children are reached!

-Mariam

A Day at EHC!

Yesterday, while sitting in an office in End Hunger CT! listening to a client try to understand why her food stamp benefits had been reduced, I really understood the frustration and grief that those in need must have to suffer through. The client’s husband is receiving unemployment compensation. With a house full of six people, I can only imagine how urgent her situation must be. The client came prepared with papers and personal bills; she had visited the Department of Social Services twice in one week before coming to see the End Hunger CT! outreach worker for assistance. It was evident from her behavior and the look on her face that she was trying hard to take matters into her own hands. The social worker tried to reach people in the DSS but was unable to reach anyone who could help the client get her benefits. When told that the social worker would call her when she heard back from people, the client, whose voice had become increasingly emotional and whose cheeks were pink from stress and worry, wiped her eyes and let the tears fall.
I don’t know what it was about her that made me feel so strongly about the situation. I could feel her frustration, but more than that I finally saw what it must be like to have a family that depends on you for money and assistance. It’s sad to admit—but coming from a middle-class American family, in which my parents pay all my tuition fees, apartment rent, and any other expenses—I had a hard time grasping the reality of what a “bad economy” means. Oh sure, I hear people lamenting the state of the economy on a daily basis, discussing lay-offs and the rise in food costs. I feel fortunate and blessed that God has not tried me with lack of wealth or material needs to sustain a living. I can’t imagine what it must be like to try and manipulate your expenses each day simply in order to make sure your family has enough food on the table each night.
What was she feeling? Did she feel hopeless? Stressed? Did she worry about how she would feed her family the next day? What must it be like to live day-to-day making such crucial decisions for the ones you love?
I never want to forget the compassion I felt as I sat and listened to the client that day. I never want to lose the feeling of helping others in need. I sincerely hope I am able to help others one day and can contribute to the community in a positive way. As a reminder to myself, I would like to share one of my favorite quotes from the Muslim holy book, the Quran, which helps me remember my duty to others is not for any reward, worldly gain or fame—it is solely for the sake of God, and doing your duty to mankind: “We feed you for the sake of God alone; we seek from you neither reward, nor thanks.”

Although the client had to leave the office without any changes made to her benefits, this morning the outreach worker informed us that the client received the changes and her food stamp benefits.