Valley nonprofit representatives may have deconstructed Harvest House VI at the Shelton Riverwalk Monday — but they had built hope for people in need.
The shelves of the 400-square-foot house constructed by 130 volunteers Saturday in the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club pavilion were filled with non-perishable donated food.
The more than100,000 donated items were split among the Valley’s food banks.
Pat Tarasovic, director of the Valley United Way Volunteer Action Center and Corporate Volunteer Council, said Harvest House is needed now more than ever.
She said since the first one was built in 2005 the community’s need for food has increased greatly.
In 2005, the food collected at Harvest House would last until Christmas. Not anymore.
“By 2013 we knew (food insecurity) was a serious problem,” Tarasovic said.
The Valley Council Food Security Task Force was born. It was chaired by Tarasovic and former TEAM President and CEO Rich Knoll.
A report on the group’s efforts, the Valley Hunger Study, was released earlier this year. The study researched the prevalence of hunger in the lower Naugatuck Valley. It was funded by the Prudential Foundation.
Click here to read the report.
According to the study 7.7 percent households in the five Valley towns – Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton – have incomes at or below the federal poverty level.
The study found that 21 percent of all Valley households receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
In addition, 5.9 percent of Valley students are eligible for reduced price lunch, and 23.8 percent are eligible for free lunch.
The report found there was limited coordination and communication between the various food providers in the Valley, an issue that is being addressed. In addition, the report found that getting to Valley food banks is a significant challenge for people who need food because they can’t access transportation.
The report strongly suggested more sites in the Valley for the Connecticut Food Bank mobile food pantry.
Jack Walsh, president and chief operating officer of the Valley United Way, said the Valley’s food banks fall short in February and also at this time of the year.
“There is a real need, and this will meet it immediately. This food will be in some families’ hands by the end of the week,” he said.
Susan Agamy, the executive director of the Spooner House, a homeless shelter in Shelton, said Harvest House is important because it raises awareness about food security on the local level.
“I hope it will continue month after month and year after year,” she said.
Students from Emmett O’Brien Technical High School in Ansonia assembled the wood “house.” Harvest House is constructed every two years.
