Click here to take a look at the recent grants awarded to help fund Health and Environmental Justice programs in our community. From left to right: Food Rescue US Inc, American Red Cross, Brass City Harvest.
Connecticut Community Foundation is dedicated to supporting programs, advocacy, and system change efforts that address disparities and expand equitable access to care, food, housing, and a healthy environment, ensuring better health for all.
Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministries: Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen
Access to food is a basic human right, and we all need healthy food to thrive. One of the largest soup kitchens and food pantries in the region, Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministries (GWIM) is making sure no one goes hungry. Through its Consumer Choice Food Pantry, GWIM distributes basic groceries bimonthly—including canned vegetables, frozen meats, cereal, and bread—to 350 residents in need. A small staff and numerous volunteers from local businesses, schools, nonprofits, and civic groups stock the food pantry and also serve guests warm, nutritious meals. In 2022, through a $12,000 grant from Connecticut Community Foundation, GWIM provided 425,000 meals annually for local residents and their families.
Center for Human Development: Waterbury Hospitality Center
The Center for Human Development’s Hospitality Center in Waterbury is a haven for people experiencing homelessness. In addition to meeting basic needs, one of the Center’s main goals is to help move individuals toward stability and independence. They do this through an approach of “whole-person wellness,” which helps people take care of their physical, mental, and social needs, which in many cases includes addressing addiction to opioids. A $15,000 grant from Connecticut Community Foundation provided Narcan, a lifesaving drug treatment, for guests with substance use disorder—keeping them safe from harm and one step closer to recovery. Additionally, the grant provides funding for education and support services that help the Center’s guests find jobs and stable housing.
Look here for more examples of grants like this in action. To support work that addresses disparities and expands equitable access to care, food, housing, and a healthy environment, make a gift to fund Health and Environmental Justice programs.
