Walmart Foundation Awards End Hunger Connecticut! $40,000 to Support SNAP Outreach in Schools
Hartford, Conn. (PRWEB) October 09, 2015 -- End Hunger Connecticut!, a statewide anti-hunger and food security organization, today announced it has received a $40,000 grant from Walmart Foundation to support SNAP outreach and education in schools across Connecticut.
"We are grateful to Walmart Foundation for their generosity and support, and for recognizing the important role that SNAP outreach and education can play in helping more Connecticut children gain access to free school breakfasts and lunches," Lucy Nolan, executive director, End Hunger Connecticut!, said.
The newly-formed SNAP outreach program will target 74 schools across Connecticut seeking to educate families about the SNAP program and increase program participation. This initiative is designed to help more school districts to qualify for Community Eligibility, a provision which allows districts with a high volume of food insecure families (defined as SNAP enrolled) to serve free breakfasts and lunches to all students. End Hunger Connecticut! will be working closely with school administrators, including food service directors, principals and social workers, to develop and distribute educational materials for families in these districts. The Connecticut nonprofit will also serve as the support service for enrolling families, guiding them through the SNAP application process.
"Studies show that proper nutrition is an integral part of ensuring students enter school ready-to-learn and are able to get the most out of their education," Nolan said. "We consistently hear from teachers and administrators that students participating in these programs demonstrate improvements in behavior and performance. Our job is to help as many students as possible to reap these benefits and Walmart Foundation's generosity will play a key role in achieving this objective."
“We are very happy to support End Hunger Connecticut! and the important work that they do to feed children and their families,” said Chris Buchanan, Walmart Director of Government Relations and Public Affairs. “Ending hunger is a major priority at Walmart, and we know that this work cannot be done without the partnerships between corporations like ours and local and dedicated organizations like End Hunger Connecticut!.”
For more information, visit http://www.EndHungerCT.org.
About End Hunger Connecticut!
End Hunger Connecticut! is a statewide anti-hunger and food security organization. By focusing on advocacy, outreach, education and research, EHC! serves as a comprehensive anti-hunger resource for community organizations, legislators, and low-income families. To learn more, visit: http://www.endhungerct.org.
About Philanthropy at Walmart
By using our strengths to help others, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation create opportunities for people to live better every day. We have stores in 27 countries, employing more than 2.2 million associates and doing business with thousands of suppliers who, in turn, employ millions of people. We are helping people live better by accelerating upward job mobility and economic development for the retail workforce; addressing hunger and making healthier, more sustainably-grown food a reality; and building strong communities where we operate and inspiring our associates to give back. Whether it is helping to lead the fight against hunger in the United States with $2 billion in cash and in-kind donations or supporting Women’s Economic Empowerment through a series of grants totaling $10 million to the Women in Factories training program in Bangladesh, China, India and Central America, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are not only working to tackle key social issues, we are also collaborating with others to inspire solutions for long-lasting systemic change. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit http://www.foundation.walmart.com.
Elyssa Millspaugh, Co-Communications, Inc., +1 860-676-4400, [email protected]
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