ACTION ALERT FOR SCHOOL MEALS!

Advancing Greenwich’s food security initiatives by

strengthening & leveraging relationships, knowledge and networks

CALL TO ACTION

We have another opportunity to support universal

no-cost school meals for all of Connecticut's students.

The Education Committee will hold a public hearing on H.B. 5214: An Act Concerning School Meals on Monday, February 23rd at 10:00 a.m.

Please consider submitting written (or verbal) testimony to the Education Committee in support of H.B. 5214: An Act Concerning School Meals on or before Monday. Also, don't forget to send your testimony to the Greenwich delegation, especially Rep. Hector Arzeno who sits on the Education Committee. Universal no-cost school meals are a significant and effective food security measure. Testimonies from Greenwich residents and officials are very important!

GOAL

H.B. 5214: ‘To provide free school breakfasts to all students in the state and to provide free school lunches for all students who are eligible for free or reduced priced lunches in the state.’ Our goal for now is to get H.B. 5214 passed out of the Education Committee and to the House floor for a vote. We can’t underestimate the power of a large number of residents submitting testimony in support of this bill – in many ways, it is a numbers game!

CONNECTICUT DATA

Connecticut currently overtakes Maine for the highest food insecurity rate in New England (14.3% of the population) and the 3rd highest rate among all Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states (behind only West Virginia at 15.7% and New York at 14.5%.)

GREENWICH SNAP-SHOT DATA

27% of Greenwich residents live at or below the ALICE threshold
Greenwich Living Wage Baseline: $145,000 for a four-person household
Minimum income required for eligibility for family of four: $41,795 (free lunch) & $59,478 (reduced lunch)

DEEPER DIVE

Greenwich food insecurity data: here
GPS free and reduced lunch Income Eligibility Guidelines: here
Coastal and Western CT food insecurity data: here

WRITE & SUBMIT TESTIMONY

- Testimony template: here

- Portal to submit written testimony: here

- Portal to sign up to speak via zoom: here

- YouTube should you be interested in watching the hearing: here

SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY

- Senator Fazio - Education + Finance Committee - email here

- Rep Tina Courpas - Education + Appropriations Committee - email here

- Rep Steve Meskers Chair, Commerce Committee - email here

- Rep Hector Arzeno Environment + Education Committee - email here

Governor Lamont Announces $1.55 Million in State Funding Now Available for Eligible Entities To Expand Access to Locally Grown, Healthy Food

This week Governor Ned Lamont announced that his administration is making $1.55 million in state funding available to support the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Local Food Purchase and Assistance Grant program for the purchase of Connecticut Grown farm products to distribute to food-insecure populations. We commend the Governor for making this remarkable investment in food security.

Funded by the state, this program continues a program previously supported by federal dollars and serves as a critical stop-gap measure following recent federal funding cuts. The program aims to increase access to locally grown farm products for distribution to food-insecure populations, while also supporting the operations of Connecticut farmers and the state’s overall agricultural economy.

Eligible entities – including food hubs, food pantries, municipalities, community health centers, nonprofit organizations, and other entities committed to food access – can now begin applying for grants to support the program’s objectives, with available grant amounts ranging from $100,000 to $301,000.

Read the full announcement here.

2025 STATE OF FOOD INSECURITY IN CONNECTICUT

Christian Duborg, Food and Nutrition Policy Analyst at The Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity, announced the release of the 2025 State of Food Insecurity in Connecticut Report. The findings are remarkable! Connecticut now has the highest rate of food insecurity in all of New England and invests the least amount of funding into assuring every resident in Connecticut has access to food.

Learn more about the findings & recommendations.

2025 State of Food Insecurity in Connecticut Report here
2025 Food and Nutrition Workgroup Report here
Webinar presentation including response from CT legislators here

WE have the power to be food system changemakers.