On Nov. 1, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not be renewed for Connecticut residents. SNAP, otherwise known as food stamps, is a federal program which has been running out of funds since the government shutdown. October is set to be the last month before the state loses $72 million in federal funds and residents’ EBT cards will stop being refilled. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 10.1% of CT residents rely on SNAP benefits to provide food for themselves or their families.
It can be stated in no small words the drastic impact that this will have on the UConn community, given that previous surveys have revealed that 55% of UConn students face some type of food insecurity. In these times, the Daily Campus Editorial Board recognizes the need for communities to come together to provide for those of us who are most vulnerable. As such, we would like to highlight the community resources available to University of Connecticut students from Storrs to Stamford and ensure that people know where they can get help if they need it.
Husky Harvest Food Pantry
On each UConn campus there is a branch of the Husky Harvest food pantry, specifically operating to support “anyone with a UConn ID.” At Storrs, the pantry is located at the entrance to Charter Oaks apartments, and its operating hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays. At Hartford, it is located on the lower level of the Hartford Times Building in room G09. It’s operating hours are Tuesday and Thursday: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Friday: 1 – 5 p.m. At the Waterbury campus, it is located in the Main Building, Suite 107, operating on Tuesday: 3 – 6 p.m., Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and Thursday: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. At Avery Point, the pantry is hosted in the Community Professional Building Room 114 and holds hours on Tuesday and Thursday: 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. and Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Finally, at Stamford it is in the Downtown Campus from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. from Tuesday through Thursday.
To donate, find ways to volunteer and the locations of the branches on the School of Law and UConn Health campuses, more information can be found on their website at huskyharvest.uconn.edu.
Dean of Students Office
The Dean of Students Office currently supports the Students First Fund, a source through which currently enrolled UConn students can request assistance of up to $1,000 for “unforeseen misfortunes.” To request funds, there is an application on the DoS website that requires students to demonstrate “unanticipated and compelling circumstances;” of which, the nationwide defunding of a key social service should surely be sufficient.
It is also possible to schedule an appointment with the Assistant Dean of Students as part of the UConn Swipes program. After a conversation with the Assistant Dean, qualifying students may be given a block of 25 swipes to be used at any dining hall starting that day.
Local Initiatives
Finally, it is worth highlighting some community organizations and efforts that exist around the different UConn campuses across the state. It is ultimately the strength of communities that will be the difference in providing for food insecure populations during this time, and more people must come together to support grassroots initiatives doing this work. In Storrs, the largest example is the food pantry hosted by Storrs Congregational Church, which operates Monday: 12 – 2 p.m., and Thursdays from 2:30 – 5 p.m. At Stamford, there exists the Fairgate Farm’s “Healthy Food, Healthy Mind Outlet,” a community fridge, food pantry and free library, easily accessible from the street at 129 Stillwater Avenue. And finally, mutual aid groups like Mutual Aid Hartford are available, which provide a breadth of support for the local community.