Connecticut Foodshare

10/12/2026

The 26th Annual Empty Bowls fundraiser is just around the corner! Join us this Saturday, October 17, from 11AM-2PM at CT State Manchester for a wonderful way to support Connecticut neighbors facing hunger. 🥣🍲

Enjoy unlimited soup and bread, choose a handcrafted bowl to take home, and enjoy delicious soups from local restaurants, including The Main Pub in Manchester!

A huge thank you to Keith Beaulieu and The Main Pub for supporting Empty Bowls year after year. Be sure to stop by and try their popular Italian sausage soup!
🎟️ Tickets are $30 and available at the door. Soup to go will also be available for purchase, no event ticket required.

We hope to see you there! 💚💙

10/12/2026

The 26th Annual Empty Bowls fundraiser is just around the corner! Join us this Saturday, October 17, from 11AM-2PM at CT State Manchester for a wonderful way to support Connecticut neighbors facing hunger. 🥣🍲
Enjoy unlimited soup and bread, choose a handcrafted bowl to take home, and enjoy delicious soups from local restaurants, including The Main Pub in Manchester!

A huge thank you to Keith Beaulieu and The Main Pub for supporting Empty Bowls year after year. Be sure to stop by and try their popular Italian sausage soup!

🎟️ Tickets are $30 and available at the door. Soup to go will also be available for purchase, no event ticket required.

We hope to see you there! 💚💙

10/09/2026

Thank you NBC Connecticut and Jennifer Joas for highlighting the impact of higher diesel fuel prices on our operations. For the months of August and September, fuel costs increased 59.7% from 2025 to 2026, increasing the cost of getting food to our neighbors across Connecticut.

Watch the story here:

The organization says if diesel prices don’t start to come down, they may be forced to deliver less food to people next year.

10/09/2026

Congratulations to our friend Adam Rivers on being named Best On-Air Personality in Radio by the Connecticut Broadcasters Association! 🎉📻

Adam and the KC101 team are incredible community partners and do a phenomenal job supporting Connecticut Foodshare through their annual Stuff-A-Bus event, helping us collect turkeys and making the holidays brighter for neighbors across Connecticut. 🦃🚌

Congratulations, Adam! We’re so grateful for all that you do for our community! 👏

10/09/2026

Congratulations to Connecticut Foodshare President & CEO Jason Jakubowski on being elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration! 🎉

Jason joins the 2026 class of 64 accomplished public servants and a distinguished group of more than 1,000 Fellows, including leaders from government, academia, and the nonprofit sector.

This honor recognizes Jason’s contributions to public service and leadership in addressing some of the challenges facing our communities. We’re proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition and his continued commitment to building a stronger, more food-secure Connecticut.

Congratulations, Jason!

10/08/2026

🥣 Greater Hartford restaurants — we need your help!

Connecticut Foodshare’s Empty Bowls event is coming up on Saturday, October 17, and we’re still looking for 10 additional restaurants to donate soup for this special fundraiser.

If you own a restaurant, work at a restaurant, or know someone who might be willing to help, please share this info! Every soup donation helps make this fundraising event a success and supports Connecticut Foodshare’s work to fight hunger across our communities.

🥣 Soup pick-up: Friday, October 16. Soup should be cold and ready for reheating. Volunteers will pick-up the soup from your restaurant
🥣 Empty Bowls event: Saturday, October 17

Interested in donating? Please contact Molly Devanney at 860-753-2223 or [email protected].

Thank you for helping us make Empty Bowls a success! 💚💙

10/08/2026

The Bloomfield Farmers Market now accepts SNAP and doubles SNAP benefits, making it easier to bring fresh, local food home. 🥕🌽

Shop local, stretch your SNAP dollars, and support local farmers.

📅 Saturdays | 10AM-1PM
📍 Filley Park Parking Lot (across from Bloomfield Village Pizza)

10/07/2026

When we center the voices of our neighbors, we can build stronger solutions to end hunger. Connecticut Foodshare’s Neighbor Council gives neighbors with lived experience of food insecurity the tools and knowledge to advocate for change and help address the root causes of hunger.

The results from our 2024–2026 cohorts show the impact of this program. Swipe through to learn more about what our Neighbor Council Ambassadors are saying. 🗣️🤝

10/06/2026

Connecticut Foodshare President & CEO Jason Jakubowski appeared on WFSB - Channel 3 Eyewitness News to discuss findings from a new survey conducted in coordination with UConn’s Health Equity Lab for the People.

The survey highlights how many neighbors rely on food assistance regularly while facing difficult choices between food and other basic needs. Watch the full interview here: https://www.wfsb.com/video/2026/10/06/eyewitness-news-unscripted-new-survey-highlights-growing-food-insecurity-across-connecticut/

Read the full report here: https://www.ctfoodshare.org/report-experiences-of-neighbors-who-access-food-pantries

Connecticut Foodshare President and CEO Jason Jakubowski breaks down staggering new survey results on hunger in our state — including that 55% of pantry households have children, 65% rely on pantries multiple times a month, and 26% are new guests within the last 6 months.

10/04/2026

⏰ Connecticut farmers: the clock is ticking! Round 1 applications for the Connecticut Department of Agriculture's Farm Recovery & Support Block Grant Program close Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.

📝 Started an application? A saved draft is not submitted — log back in, finish, and select Apply. Watch for your confirmation email from [email protected].

✅ Already submitted? No additional action is required unless you receive a Request for Information (RFI). You’ll be notified through the application system if an RFI is needed or your payment is approved. Tuesday, October 13 is the final date to respond to RFIs.

❓ The program FAQs have been updated with new information. Check them before you submit: https://portal.ct.gov/doag/adarc/adarc/disaster-relief-resources/farm-recovery-and-support-block-grant-program/frequently-asked-questions

Learn more: https://portal.ct.gov/doag/adarc/adarc/disaster-relief-resources/farm-recovery-and-support-block-grant-program

Need help? Contact Dom Piccini at [email protected].