The New Britain Spanish Speaking Center’s Food Pantry is in Danger of closing due To Lack of Funds cut by the State of Ct.
Rick Guinness of The New Britain Herald with his lead story today announced the sad news for the extremely poor and disadvantaged citizen of the city will be losing their source for food.
He did elaborate how the state’s budget reduced its allocation to the center by a sum of $100,000. At thanksgiving time I notified our readers that the center was just about out of funds. Now according to the Herald report that has become a reality.
Mr. Guinness recommends that we all contact the Governor’s office by sending letters to her requesting a replenishment of the funds to the center in order for them to continue to help the poor with the food they need and count on to survive.
I further recommend that you contact all the legislative members, within your voting district, to request them to contact the Governor to reconsider her actions and restore the badly needed funds at the Spanish Speaking Center.
15 comments:
Is the Spanish Speaking Center dependent only on the State for funding? Can they have a fund raising campaign, such as soliciting money from the public and/or businesses? Donating food is a good thing, but there must be ways to raise funds independent of government grants, etc.
Curious: You asked about federal funding for the Spanish Speaking Center:
Their request for $30,000 was reduced by the Feds to $22,500 adding to the already existing problems with the state's adverse actions.
I am aware that there may be a fund raising effort that may be launched possibly next week but with the Christmas season approaching and the many layoffs’ occurring around town I find it very hard in anticipating a successful fund drive.
You can understand that people are very uneasy and are holding on to their money for the unexpected future surprises.
Wasn't this the funding that HUD withheld because of Trueworthy's and Catzanaro's serious conflicts of interest?
To the best of my knowledge that funding that was held back had to do with the HRA involvement of Alderman Catanzaro and with his Majority Leader Alderman Truseworhty’s conflict of interest issues.
All but that particular funding were restored by HUD to the best of my knowledge.
Frank, Perhaps the Christmas season is not the best time to have a fund raising campaign for the Spanish Center. With the economy being the way it is, a fund raising campaign after the holidays could include pancake breakfasts such as those occasionally held at the Senior Center by various organizations, for a minimal amount...$5 per person; Pasta dinners could also be held for a minimal amount. People like the socialization offered by such events, and are ways to contribute to a worthy cause.
Curious: I will pass that idea to the director of the center Ms. Mary Sanders.
New Britain - The CT State Bond Commission expressed its support for feeding hungry families in New Britain by approving a $150.000 Bond for a centralized city food pantry at the Salvation Army site, 78 Franklin Square in downtown New Britain.
But the operating budget for the Spanish Speaking Center, one of the primary organizations the state has been using to distribute food in the city at the same time had it’s budget cut - in order to establish a centralized food pantry with refrigeration capacities for more frozen meals and perishable foods by converting the Salvation Army garage into a brand new Food Pantry.
Mayor Timothy Stewart said the city needed to establish a centralized food pantry with refrigeration and start tracking the people who receive services. Arnold Schwartz, co-chairman of the Salvation Army advisory committee, said the site would be in back of the Salvation Army at Franklin Square. The project was supposed to break ground after being granted a variance by the NB Zoning Board of Appeals. The Salvation Army $150.000 Bond is only for renovations and acquisition of property.
Currently there are about 10 small pantries giving out food - none of the pantries can store perishable foods. They have to make runs to Food share in Bloomfield,CT. The governor was quoted in The Herald saying, "Now more than at any time in the recent past, Connecticut families are being strained by the high costs of gasoline, energy and electricity and groceries. More and more of our families need the kind of help food pantries as The Salvation Army Food Pantry will help stretch their household budgets."
According to Mary Sanders who runs the Spanish Speaking Center, the organization serves 1,500 people a month. It was eligible to receive funding for a food pantry and was one of three possible sites considering for a centralized food pantry. There were three possible locations: The Spanish Center, the Salvation Army, or Osgood Park, she said.
The Spanish Center will remain open five days a week Monday through Friday for the immediate future offering career training, social services and youth leadership.
Mary Sanders, who has been meeting with people like Major Stanley Newton of the Salvation Army and with other relief organizations, said the current thinking is that New Britain may be better off with three different sites with refrigeration rather than one location as the Salvation Army Food Pantry site.
Spanish Speaking Center budget cut
By RICK GUINNESS, Herald staff - 08/03/2008.
NEW BRITAIN - The State Bond Commission expressed its support for feeding hungry families in New Britain Monday by approving $150,000 for a centralized city food pantry, but the operating budget for the Spanish Speaking Center, one of the primary organizations the state has been using to distribute food in the city, was at the same time slashed, leaving city politicians angry and confused.
State Rep. Peter Tercyak, D-26th District, and the city's legislative delegation roundly criticized Gov. M. Jodi Rell's decision to cut $100,000 in funding from the Spanish Speaking Center.
This was to be the second year of funding that goes through the Spanish Speaking Center and benefits food pantries throughout the city, the lawmakers said in a statement.
Tercyak, vice chairman of the budget-writing Appropriations Committee, issued a stern rebuke to the governor's budget staff at a hearing at the state Capitol, and added, "The law allows Governor Rell to make up to a 5 percent cut in the budget, which would have only added up to a cut of $23,000. Gov. Rell is not really allowed to cut more than that, but she did anyway by ordering a 'lapse' or cut in funding equal to the entire remainder of the amount appropriated for the food pantry in the second year of the two-year budget, making the cut $100,000. Not one penny for operating a food pantry in New Britain.
Rep. Tim O'Brien D-24th District, said he hated to mix good news with bad after the bond commission met Monday and the city brought back more than $600 million for city projects. But when he learned from Tercyak that the Spanish Speaking Center had its operating budget slashed, he couldn't help but ask the question:
"Why is she now cutting the very funding that helps people struggling because of the economy to put food on the table? It does not make any sense.
"Given the shutdown of the lack of food pantry services," O'Brien said, "We were reacting to the crisis in the community. We are really just getting things back on track. I hope the governor changes her mind. They are cutting the money that was supposed to be going to feeding people. It's not just the food - you actually need staff to run the pantry."
The governor was quoted in The Herald Jan. 26, saying, "Now more than at any time in the recent past, Connecticut families are being strained by the high costs of gasoline, energy and electricity and groceries. More and more of our families need the kind of help food pantries provide to help stretch their household budgets."
Sen. Donald DeFronzo, D-6th District, chairman of the bonding subcommittee, praised the governor for having agreed to fund $150.000 Bond for building space for food pantry at Salvation Army in New Britain.
"But it makes no sense for the governor to now cut the funding to actually provide the food," DeFronzo said.
According to Mary Sanders, who runs the Spanish Speaking Center, the organization serves 1,500 people a month. It is eligible to receive funding for a food pantry and is one of three possible sites for a centralized food pantry with refrigeration.
Mayor Timothy Stewart last year said the city needed to establish a centralized food pantry and start tracking the people who receive services. Arnold Schwartz, co-chairman of the Salvation Army advisory committee, said the site would be in back of the Salvation Army. The project was supposed to break ground in February, Schwartz said. But it has not happened since the Salvation Army site now needs a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Sanders, who has been meeting with people like Maj. Stanley Newton at the Salvation Army and with other relief organizations, said the current thinking is that New Britain may be better off with three different sites with refrigeration rather than one Salvation Army location with refrigeration.
Currently there are about 10 small pantries giving out food - none of the pantries can store perishable foods. They have to make runs to Foodshare in Bloomfield, Sanders said.
The $150.000 Bond is only for Salvation Army renovations, refrigeration and acquisition of property, Mary Sanders explained.
One of the bombshells - if true - that Sanders unloaded, is that the city is actually considering renovating the pool house at Osgood Park for a pantry.
There are three possible locations - her center, the Salvation Army, or Osgood Park, she said.
After much money was sunk into the pool over the past several years, the recreation department decided not to fill it with water. Last year, the director said the pool was getting less use than the other pools in town, a specious argument Sanders believes, given the number of kids in that area and the heat.
"They are going to change the pool house into a pantry," she said. "Putting water in the pool is not on the agenda. It was one of the better pools. They are tearing down Pinnacle Heights."
"I am looking to meet with the governor," she said, adding that she wants to show Rell that there hundreds of people who get their food from the Cedar Street site.
"The governor may not realize how big a program it is," she added. "We have enough food to get by for a couple of months. When we closed (in 2006) we were serving over 2,000 individuals. This is the first time we had a state grant. We received a state grant in January for $100,000. It was supposed to be for two years. Now they want to cut out the second year."
Alderman Paul Catanzaro was appointed to the New Britain Zoning Board of Appeals in 1998 and served until 2003.
Why was the Salvation Army's Food Pantry stalled by action of the New Britain Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)? Why did this new Food Pantry need a Variance from the ZBA - a Change in Conditions from Garage Building site to a Food Pantry Building site?
What did Mr.Catanzaro know...and what did he whistle to the ZBA?
Curious:
My response of why HUD held back a potion of their funding from the city I name two of the Alderman involved with the HRA conflict however, I neglected to include Alderwoman Collins who is also involved with the HRA complaint against the three Alderpersons.
Why should those 3 care? None of them is wondering where their next meal will come from.
Frank, I' d be interested to know what Mary Sanders thinks about having fund raisers...perhaps she can recruit some of the people seeking donations to volunteer at the fundraisers in return for a free pancake breakfast or free spaghetti dinner for themselves and their immediate family.
Just a thought.
New Britain Food Locations as list in Sunday Hartford Courant.
Locations of food pantries, food trucks, and free meals in New Britain, CT.
SPANISH SPEAKING CENTER
29 Cedar St. Food Pantry, 1st, 3rd, and 5th Wednesday and every Friday. 1 PM - 4 PM
29 Cedar St.
Food Pantry, 1st, 3rd, and 5th Wednesday and every Friday.
1 PM - 4 PM
SALVATION ARMY
78 Franklin Sq. Food Pantry Tues and Thurs 9 AM - 3 PM Closed from 12 PM - 1 PM
78 Franklin Square
Food Pantry Tues and Thurs
9 AM - 3 PM
Closed from 12 PM - 1 PM
ST. ANNE’S SCHOOL
North St. between Lawlor and Clark Food Pantry Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 9 AM - 12 PM
North St. between Lawlor and Clark
Food Pantry
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri
9 AM - 12 PM
ST. MARK’S
147 West Main St. Food Pantry Mon. and Thurs. 9 AM - 2 PM
147 West Main St.
Food Pantry
Mon. and Thurs.
9 AM - 2 PM
ST. MARY’S
544 Main St. Food Pantry Mon. and Thurs. 9 AM - 12 PM
544 Main St.
Food Pantry
Mon. and Thurs.
9 AM - 12 PM
"HOUSE of GRACE" at Iglesia del Buen Samaritano
36 North St. Large scale food pantry Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month 1 PM - 4 PM Administered by Spanish Speaking Center
36 North St.
Large scale food pantry
Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month
1 PM - 4 PM
Administered by Spanish Speaking Center
NEW BEGININGS
84 Spring St. Food Pantry First 25 customers, Friday 11 AM - 1 PM By appointment Mon, Tues, Wed.
84 Spring St.
Food Pantry
First 25 customers, Friday 11 AM - 1 PM
By appointment Mon, Tues, Wed.
MOUNT OLIVE CHURCH
216 Tremont St. Food Pantry
216 Tremont St.
Food Pantry
REPARING the BREACHES
323 West Main St. Food Pantry Every other Monday 4 PM - 6 PM
323 West Main St.
Food Pantry
Every other Monday
4 PM - 6 PM
TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH
25 South St. Food Pantry
25 South St.
Food Pantry
FRIENDSHIP CENTER
241 Arch St. Hot Lunch Mon-Fri 12 Noon
241 Arch St.
Hot Lunch
Mon-Fri
12 Noon
FOOD NOT BOMBS
Free Food for the Revolution. Central Park Sunday 3 PM - 4 PM
Free Food for the Revolution.
Central Park
Sunday
3 PM - 4 PM
ST. JAMES BAPTIST CHURCH
15 Wilcox St. Hot lunch and food pantry. Thursday 12 PM - 1 PM
15 Wilcox St.
Hot lunch and food pantry.
Thursday 12 PM - 1 PM
ISAIAH 58
New Brite Plaza across from St. Anne's Food truck with hot lunch. Saturday except 1st Saturday of the month. 3 PM - 4 PM
New Brite Plaza across from St. Anne's
Food truck with hot lunch.
Saturday except 1st Saturday of the month.
3 PM - 4 PM
HERALD SQUARE
Foodshare Truck Every Other Tuesday 12 PM - 12:45 PM
Foodshare Truck
Every Other Tuesday
12 PM - 12:45 PM
ST. ANNE’S PARKING LOT
Foodshare Truck Every Other Wednesday 1 PM - 1:45 PM
Foodshare Truck
Every Other Wednesday
1 PM - 1:45 PM
MALIKOWSKI CIRCLE
Foodshare Truck Every Other Wednesday 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM
Food Share Truck
Every Other Wednesday
9:30 AM - 10:15 AM
CORBIN HEIGHTS
Food share Truck 40 Patton Dr. Every Other Friday 11 AM - 11:45 AM
Foodshare Truck
40 Patton Dr.
Every Other Friday
11 AM - 11:45 AM
111 JEROME DRIVE
Foodshare Truck Every 4 Fridays 1 PM - 1:45 PM
Maybe Catzanaro and Trueworthy could just resign from the council so HUD can restore the badly needed funding for food pantries.
Ebeneezer Scrooge said...
Today Trueworthy and Catzanaro are sitting down to stuff their faces with Christmas goose while due to their blatant conflicts of interest, the federal funding was withheld by HUD for programs meant to feed the poor.
The saddest part of the story is that the over sized egos of these two individuals are such that in their minds it makes them "real men" to have so much good food to eat while directly being the cause of others starving.
Bah humbug.
December 25, 2008 12:23 PM
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