We are writing in response to In Greenwich, a gold standard food pantry. But others struggle published on August 25. Thank you for educating your readers on the unprecedented levels of food insecurity in Connecticut.
The article thoughtfully demonstrates the pressures food pantries undergo and their reliance on volunteers and financial assistance in order to provide a dignified experience for their clients. Food assistance programs play a vital role when it comes to addressing food security. Resources to support them are abundant in our state and should be distributed equally. Food pantries are on “the front lines” in a specific way and are doing extraordinary work to meet the needs of their communities.
As residents of Greenwich and Bridgeport who are deeply invested in food systems change, we were curious to see how this article was framed. Instead of comparing one pantry against another and perpetuating stereotypes and false narratives – with Greenwich as the ‘gold standard’ community and Bridgeport as the ‘struggling’ community, is it possible to offer a new narrative to the CT Mirror’s readership?…