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Frequently Asked Questions
I have a food emergency. How do I get help now?
What is Foodshare?
How does hunger affect people?
Where does Foodshare get the food to help those in need?
Does Foodshare accept donations from volunteer-run food drives?
How does Foodshare get food to those in need?
Do hungry people come to Foodshare’s warehouse to pick up food?
Does Foodshare purchase food?
Does Foodshare sell food?
How is Foodshare managed, governed, organized?
What is "Hunger 101"?
Does Foodshare help in disaster situations?
Does Foodshare do any work overseas or in the Third World?
Can we visit Foodshare?
How can I learn more about Foodshare?
I have a food emergency. How do I get help now?
If you are personally in need of urgent assistance to have enough food for yourself or your family, please call 2-1-1.
2-1-1 Infoline is a free community service administered by the United Way of Connecticut. You can call 2-1-1 or visit the Infoline website to get information on available community services near you or to seek help in a crisis. This hotline is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
What is Foodshare?
Foodshare is the regional food bank for Hartford and Tolland counties. Its main distribution center is located in Bloomfield (mailing address: 450 Woodland Ave, Bloomfield, CT 06002 / main phone 860-286-9999). In 2009, Foodshare distributed 16 tons of food daily to nearly 350 community kitchens, emergency shelters, food pantries, and other anti-hunger programs in the area.
Read our mission statement.
Watch the "What is Foodshare?" video.
How does hunger affect people?
Although we do not see starvation in the United States, hunger and malnutrition still have significant consequences:
- Malnourished pregnant women are more likely to have stillborn or low-birth-weight babies.
- Inadequately nourished infants and children are apt to have learning problems and more illnesses.
- Adults who are hungry are less energetic and productive, making it difficult to find and keep a job or care for children.
- Malnourished elderly persons are less able to prevent illness and enjoy good health.
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Hunger is a symptom of the complex problem of poverty. Almost half of hungry households have someone who is employed. There is no lack of food in the US -- only an inequitable distribution system due to cost of living, lack of supermarkets in poor neighborhoods, and bureaucracy standing between the hungry and help from government programs.
Learn more about hunger.
Take a virtual tour about poverty.
Where does Foodshare get the food to help those in need?
The majority of food is donated by the food industry including wholesalers, retailers and manufacturers of food, accounting for an estimated 80% of donations. Much of this is received through our parter Feeding America. But this also includes farmers and wholesale produce vendors who help to ensure that fresh produce is always available. Distributing on average 16 tons of food each day, we rely heavily on these large scale donations to meet the growing need. Additionally, Foodshare also receives ongoing assistance from federal programs, resulting in 3.3 million pounds of food last year alone!
Does Foodshare accept donations from volunteer-run food drives?
While Foodshare will accept these donations, it is recommended that those interested in helping further our cause, speak with a staff member before organizing a food drive. While smaller, local agencies may benefit from such donations, Foodshare works on such a large scale that these food drives are impractical and costly when you take into consideration how much Foodshare distributes on a daily basis. Learn more.
How does Foodshare get food to those in need?
Foodshare provides food to local partner agencies -- community kitchens, food pantries, emergency shelters, senior food programs, child day care centers, and halfway houses -- all of which, in turn, feed hungry people in each and every town throughout greater Hartford. See the Flow of Food to Hungry People.
Do hungry people come to Foodshare’s warehouse to pick up food?
Hungry people go to local community kitchens and food pantries in their communities to get food. Foodshare supplies these organizations with food, but does not provide food directly to people in need. When people call Foodshare looking for assistance, they are referred back to a local program right in their neighborhood.
Does Foodshare purchase food?
Not for the most part. Ninety-five percent of the 12 million pounds of food that Foodshare distributed to local partner agencies in 2009 was donated. The one exception is that Foodshare operates a cooperative buying program for its member agencies, where Foodshare purchases needed items in bulk and then re-sells the food to the member agencies at this low cost. Monetary donations to Foodshare are not used to purchase food, but to underwrite the costs of transporting, storing, and distributing donated food, which is why every $30 donated lets Foodshare distribute enough food for one person for a month!
Does Foodshare sell food?
Foodshare does not, and in fact cannot, sell the food which is donated to us to feeding hungry people. Moreover, the local food pantries and community kitchens cannot charge the final recipients, hungry people, for this food. Foodshare does ask the agencies that receive food to cooperate in the support of the food bank by contributing a very small shared maintenance fee for each pound of food they take. Agencies that find themselves in difficult financial circumstances can apply to have these fees waived.
How is Foodshare managed, governed, organized?
Foodshare is an independent, non-profit corporation under Connecticut law and has a volunteer Board of Directors to govern the organization. Foodshare also employs a dedicated staff (read about our President) and involves more than 2,500 volunteers in the work to end hunger.
Foodshare is affiliated with a national network of food banks called Feeding America and is also affiliated with many local organizations such as the United Way, End Hunger Connecticut!, and Hartford Food System. We are not a part of any government entity, and in fact, do not receive government money for our day-to-day operations, although we do administer certain government food programs.
What is "Hunger 101"?
Hunger 101 is a role-play and discussion activity, designed to increase awareness and understanding of hunger and its many causes. The program allows individuals to experience the challenges of feeding a family, on a limited budget, through available social services. It is versatile enough to engage to everyone—children and adults, experienced advocates, and interested friends.
As part of Foodshare's efforts to end hunger, we work to educate the overall community about the problem and actively engage them in seeking solutions. If you would like to learn more, please call 860.286.9999 and ask for Sarah Santora or email her at ssantora@foodshare.org.
Does Foodshare help in disaster situations?
Yes! Foodshare has a disaster plan and an agreement with the Red Cross in Connecticut to work cooperatively in the event of a local disaster. In addition, as a member of Feeding America, Foodshare is occasionally involved in disaster relief in other areas. In the past, we have shipped products to our sister food banks serving the victims of Hurricanes Hugo and Andrew, and to our neighbors in Northern Maine and New York in the January 1998 ice storm. More recently, we participated in relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina.
Does Foodshare do any work overseas or in the Third World?
Foodshare does not work overseas, nor do we ever ship food overseas. This is both because of our mission, which is to end hunger in greater Hartford, and because of IRS rules. Since the food was donated for use in the U. S., under provisions of the tax code allowing deductions for the donor, we are obligated to distribute the food only in the United States.
Can we visit Foodshare?
Of course! We love to give tours of our distribution center. In fact, we hold regular community meetings that invite the public to hear a presentation about hunger and Foodshare’s work as well as tour our operations. We would love to have you join us at one of these sessions! The meetings last about 90 minutes and include light refreshments. As well as the presentation and tour, given by Foodshare President & CEO Gloria McAdam, there is plenty of opportunity for questions and answers.
If you would like to bring a group on a tour, please give us a call at (860) 286-9999 and we will set something up. It’s a great opportunity for a field trip for a school or youth group!
How can I learn more about Foodshare?
Whether you are new to Foodshare or are already involved there’s always new information about Foodshare and our work to end hunger.
Community meetings are open to anyone who is interested in hearing more about the problem of hunger and Foodshare's work. This 90-minute program includes a tour of our facilities, light refreshments, and a presentation by Foodshare's President & CEO Gloria McAdam. To attend an upcoming meeting, please contact Foodshare at (860) 286-9999.
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