NEWTOWN – Senator Tony Hwang joined Real Food CT Founder Sean Fitzpatrick and board members David Haze, Nancy Zychek, Chip Parrish, and Kim Roberts to celebrate their $20,000 Food Supply Chain Grant from the CT Department of Agriculture.
Real Food CT is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization connecting local farms to hunger-relief organizations, helping provide people in need with nutritious foods in the surrounding communities of Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties. Real Food CT plans to use this grant to purchase a refrigeration truck, allowing them to keep food fresh as it is transported from local farms and farmer’s markets to soup kitchens, food pantries, and more. Real Food CT operates multiple giving gardens, such as the 30 large, raised bed gardens at the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary. They also partner with nearby farmers, helping them donate any excess produce to local recipients.
“Food Insecurity and malnutrition are key concerns of mine due to the rise of food deserts in both urban, suburban and rural areas across Connecticut. In low-income areas, there is a stunning lack of nutritious food options available to the local population. Organizations like Real Food CT are integral to solving food insecurity needs in our communities. This grant will allow them to expand their operations, bringing farm-to-table produce to more of those who are in need,” Senator Tony Hwang remarked.
“This grant builds on our existing programs and efforts in getting locally grown produce to local hunger relief organizations, expanding efforts to build a more formal food hub/marketplace where we can continue our work in supporting vulnerable populations,” Real Food CT Founder Sean Fitzpatrick stated.” As soon as Senator Hwang reached out, we saw how important it was to him to support community efforts to get nutritious food to local community members in need. He has pledged support, and we are grateful for his efforts to bring awareness to our important work.”
Real Food CT is looking to expand its operations in the coming year. While their main goal is connecting local hunger relief organizations to nutritious, locally grown food, they want to make major headway into reducing food insecurity among fixed-income seniors. The nonprofit wishes to expand its operations by 100%, targeting areas with nutrient and food insecurity.
The post Senator Hwang Joins Real Food CT to Celebrate CT Dept. of Agriculture State Grant, Increased Capacity to Address Food Insecurity appeared first on Connecticut Senate Republicans.
