Combatting Rising Food Insecurity in Connecticut: How Local Churches Are Coming Together to Make a Difference

Food insecurity is rising sharply in Connecticut. About 180,000 children and 290,000 adults are unsure about their next meal, according to Connecticut Foodshare. In Monroe, the situation is equally concerning. Eddie Lui, the town’s food pantry coordinator, highlights a significant increase in need.

“We now assist 175 families, which amounts to around 900 individuals,” Lui explains. “That’s a 25 percent jump over the past two years. Our partners, like Refill The Pantry, are crucial.” Two years ago, he recalls having 140 families relying on the pantry.

Refill The Pantry is a collaborative effort among 17 local churches. They are hosting an event at Stop & Shop in Monroe on Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They’re encouraging shoppers to donate nonperishable items to support the Monroe Food Pantry.

Items in demand include canned fruit, soup, toilet paper, laundry detergent, and condiments like ketchup and mayonnaise.

This Saturday, more than 30 volunteers will gather at Stop & Shop to collect donations. “We’re thankful to Stop & Shop for their support,” says Rich Lansing, a coordinator for Refill the Pantry. “Last year, our communities generously donated over 2,000 pounds of food and about $1,000.” His optimism is fueled by a growing eagerness among people to tackle this food crisis head-on.

Food insecurity in Connecticut is escalating. Jason Jakubowski, CEO of Connecticut Foodshare, reported a 23 percent increase in those facing food challenges, raising the number from 382,000 to around 470,000 this year. This affects about 13 percent of the state’s population of 3.7 million.

The situation worsened after the federal government canceled a vital program. In 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture initiated the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program, granting Connecticut $6.7 million to buy food from local farmers. Unfortunately, a second grant of $3.7 million was recently terminated, leaving a significant gap in food resources.

In response, three churches in Monroe are working alongside five others to combat local food insecurity through Refill The Pantry. The involved Monroe churches are Good Shepherd Lutheran, Monroe Congregational Church, and United Methodist Church.

Now in its fourth year, Refill The Pantry aims to make a lasting impact. It will host 12 collection events to support six local food pantries, ensuring families in Trumbull, Stratford, Fairfield, Monroe, and Bridgeport receive needed assistance.

Community efforts like this demonstrate the power of collective action in addressing food insecurity. With rising numbers, every donation helps. For more information on the current state of food insecurity in Connecticut, a recent report from the Connecticut Food Bank offers valuable insights.

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