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One in five children in this country lives in a home that sometimes runs out of food, according to a study conducted by Feeding America. One in six adults suffers the same inequity. They are defined as food insecure, but they are our neighbors. They live in our communities and they attend our schools. Nancy L. Carrington, President and CEO of Connecticut Food Bank told CTBites in a recent interview, The Food Bank has had an average 30 percent increase in demand for our services in the past few years, and is seeing more people who are seeking food assistance for the first time. Carrington also referenced the Feeding America report. The study also confirms our assessment that half of the children living in food insecure households in Connecticut are not eligible for federal child nutrition programs because they live in households with incomes over the threshold to qualify.
Enter Community Plates, a Norwalk-based non-profit that exists as a platform for the rescue of healthy surplus food from the trash can, dumpsters and landfills it normally ends up to the places where it can make a difference for food-insecure families. According to the organizations website, Americans throw away between 25 and 40 percent of our food supply. Community Plates works to cut out the waste and feed the hungry with it.
The organization has partnered with local restaurants like Match, DaPietros and Barcelona to rescue the unused food that was never served or plated and move it to places like the Open Door Shelter in Norwalk where it will nourish the hungry.
Tuesday, Oct. 4, you have a chance to help. Community Plates will hold a fundraising gala at Stepping Stones Museum, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets start at $50, and you can buy them on the Community Plates website, where you can also find out about volunteer opportunities.
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