According to the State of Connecticut website as of Wednesday, October 29th, “The Department of Social Services has received notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services that if the federal government shutdown continues into November, there will not be enough funds to pay November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) benefits.”
SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, is a federal program that provides monthly funds to low-income households to help them buy food. According to Jacqueline D’Louhy, the New Canaan youth and family services coordinator, our town in 2022 had about 201 families receiving SNAP benefits. Since COVID, more families have moved to town so that number may be up to 225 or more families.
While Gov. Ned Lamont will be offering $300 million from state emergency funds, that supplement will not benefit New Canaan’s food pantry, so more donations are needed.
The New Canaan Clergy Association invites you to consider how to help ensure that no one in our town or general area goes to be hungry by making donations to the St. Mark’s Food Pantry.
St. Mark’s Food Pantry was started by the youth group of St. Mark’s with the Rev. Michael Bird and Wendy Hilboldt many years ago and in time handed it over to the town of New Canaan, now run by the Human Services. The Gospel Garden supplies organically grown fresh vegetables to both the Food Pantry and Person to Person. The number of clients in the Rev. Peter Walsh’s time has nearly doubled, and with the threat of federal funding cuts, will likely increase as well.
The Rev. Peter Walsh, rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, said, “We are New Canaan, and we care. This is not just a crisis for somebody else in some other community. It is a crisis for our neighbors in our community. We need to do everything we can to ensure our neighbors in New Canaan and in the surrounding communities never go to bed hungry.”
While St. Mark’s congregation is committed to increasing their support for the food pantry, the needs are increasing and this is an opportunity for all of our different faith communities and residents of New Canaan to step up and help care for our neighbors in their time of need.
So, here’s how you can help:
The St Mark’s Food Pantry needs Non-Perishable Food Donations, including cereal, pasta, canned fruit, beans, veggies, soups, tuna, chicken, jarred sauces, salsa, oatmeal, rice, snacks, juice boxes, non-refrigerated milk, taco kits, pancake mix, syrup, crackers, tortilla chips, peanut butter, apple sauce, jelly, chicken broth.
You can also donate financially. All proceeds go directly to help feed the hungry in our town:
- Gift Cards – Grocery store gift cards, or Walmart or Target gift cards in $25, $50, $75, or $100 denominations may be dropped off at the Human Services Annex (77 A Main Street, New Canaan)
- Checks – Payable to New Canaan Human Services and mailed or dropped off at the Human Services Annex behind Town Hall (77 Main Street, New Canaan). Please indicate the program you wish to support in the memo line on your check. If you’re unsure, simply write “Most Needed” and we’ll direct your gift where it will have the greatest impact.
- Online Portal – Make a secure contribution through our online donation portal by visiting www.newcanaan.info and selecting the Human Services Department
Finally, if you know of families, especially senior citizens, who may need food support, please connect them with Jacqueline D’Louhy and the Human Services Department (office: 203-594-3081) to get on the food pantry distribution list. She can also connect people with Catholic Charities who help families with financial counseling and budgeting. You can make a difference, and even a small contribution is a big help to ensuring that no one goes hungry in our town!
The Rev. Scott Herr is pastor at First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan.
The question is why are people in this town are without food. I really do not understand that. People are on medicaid , affordable living arrangements, they have families, churches who provide food daily. What am I missing?
This is just about politics. Democratic politics. Who shut down Snap?
The Democrats. Using people for political purposes. So then we have discussions like this. Bad President Trump. Bad Republicans. It’s sick and sad. I don’t think the Churches, who have done splendid work feeding the the elderly, the poor, should fall for this gimmick. Maybe not everybody needs Snap. Maybe it’s yet another govt. behemoth that needs to be investigated and they have 40 million people on their books. Seems , like New Canaan and every town
And city in America has volunteers through many agencies that can and do target who really needs meals and provides them. Sorry not agreeing with
Editorial.
On behalf of New Canaan Human Services, we extend our sincere gratitude for any gift card donation! Thank you Pastor Herr for your thoughtful words! Contributions make it possible for our residents who utilize SNAP benefits to purchase perishable items such as fresh vegetables, fruits, and proteins from local grocery stores – all essentials that support both health and dignity!