The Growing Demand

For Food Assistance

To the Editor:

Thanksgiving has passed, but we here at Connecticut Food Bank continue to feel blessed. On behalf of our organization and the more than 650 food assistance programs we serve, I would like to offer a public thank you to the hundreds of individuals, families, civic groups, companies, and others who helped to make the local food drives that benefited our programs a success. Your donations of frozen turkeys, nonperishable food, and funds helped people in need have a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

 With rising costs of living and the approaching winter months, the demand for food assistance is greater than it has ever been. In Connecticut, 8.6 percent of households are considered to have low or very low food security.

 The response from the community has truly been overwhelming. This Thanksgiving season, Connecticut Food Bank was able to collect 25,298 turkeys and 529,522 pounds of trimmings. In total, we estimate that this will provide more than 407,325 meals during the holiday season. 

 We consider ourselves very fortunate for the outpouring of community support, but we must remember that Thanksgiving is one day out of the whole year. Thank you for your amazing support this Thanksgiving season and all year long.

Sincerely,

Nancy L. Carrington

Executive Director

Connecticut Food Bank

PO Box 8686 New Haven, CT 06531                   November 30. 2007