The Archbishop's Annual Appeal released the emergency funding to food banks in Hartford, Litchfield and New Haven counties.
HARTFORD, Conn. — Hartford Archbishop Christopher Coyne directed $500,000 in emergency funding this week to local food banks amid Connecticut's effort to help those impacted by the ongoing federal shutdown.
The Archbishop's Annual Appeal released the funding to food banks in Hartford, Litchfield and New Haven counties, according to archdiocese spokesperson David Elliott. The goal behind the funding was to help recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which ran out of money on Nov. 1 due to the shutdown.
SNAP is the "largest nutrition assistance program in the U.S.," providing food benefits low-income families so that they have access to nutritious food, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Coyne said the funding is part of the continuous effort of the Catholic Church to provide "relief and hope for God's children."
He noted that it's what the church has done for over 2,000 years and continues to do today.
“In the spirit of Jesus’ command to serve our brothers and sisters in need, I am pleased today to release $500,000 in funding from the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal to food banks throughout the Archdiocese of Hartford," Coyne said. "These funds will help to ensure that those who rely on SNAP benefits for nourishment can still put food on the table for themselves and their families.”
The Archbishop's Annual Appeal is an annual fundraising initiative, led by the Hartford archbishop, to support organizations and ministries that serve communities in the Hartford, Litchfield and New Haven counties.
According to Gov. Ned Lamont's office, the SNAP freeze impacts 42 million Americans, including 360,000 Connecticut residents. While state residents have access to unused SNAP benefits from previous months on their EBT cards, no new benefits have been issued for November.
President Donald Trump's administration said it would partially fund the SNAP food aid program, but it is unclear how much funding will be allocated or when recipients would be able to use the funding.
Ahead of the SNAP freeze, Lamont's administration set aside $3 million for Connecticut Foodshare. He also said Tuesday that while the state would start funding 3 million meals for Foodshare, that number can be increased based on the need.
Other efforts to help those in need in the state during the shutdown included Connecticut schools funding meals for families eligible for SNAP benefits. A local high school student also gave away 1,000 hot dogs to families struggling with food insecurity.
Those looking to help or donate to food pantries in the state can find a list on 211 Connecticut's website here. More information can also be found on Connecticut Foodshare's website here.
Sean Humphrey is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at .
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