Through the Tariq Farid Foundation, we have been blessed to be able to support many worthwhile organizations that are helping those in need. It is a sad fact of life that there are those who, through no fault of their own, often find themselves suffering in tragic situations. Yet I never cease to be amazed at the generosity of those who are willing to give their time and energy to help ease the suffering.
One such organization is the Connecticut Food Bank, the state’s non-profit leader in the fight against hunger and the largest provider of charitably donated food. Last year the organization and its partners provided enough food to prepare more than 18 million meals. The Connecticut Food Bank distributes this food through a network of community-based programs to more than 300,000 people across six Connecticut counties.
Just before Thanksgiving last year, the team at Edible Arrangements participated in a food drive to support the Connecticut Food Bank and we invited Cheryl Thompson from that organization to a staff meeting to share details of their work. It was during this meeting that I was particularly moved to hear about their Kids’ BackPack Program, which provides more than 3,300 schoolchildren with weekend food packets.
Whenever I hear that there are kids in need, my heart breaks. No child should ever go hungry. Children should always have access to the food they need to grow and thrive. That there are children who go through a weekend with little or no food to eat is truly tragic. That is why when I heard about this program I was determined to do what I could to help. And that is why the Tariq Farid Foundation recently delivered a $25,000 grant to the Connecticut Food Bank in support of this program.
Interim CEO Paul O’Leary told us that our support will have a great impact on helping ensure that children in Connecticut have the food they need to grow and learn. He gave us a tour of the Connecticut Food Bank’s new distribution center and headquarters, which is just two miles from the Edible Arrangements corporate headquarters in Wallingford, and I was amazed by the scale of the facility, as well as the programs operated by the organization.
I especially loved seeing so much fresh produce being donated and distributed. I know many families struggle to get by during a time of unemployment or medical crisis, and this source of food makes all the difference to them—and to their children.
Thank you to Paul, his terrific team and all the volunteers for the tremendous work they are doing. If anyone reading this blog would like to join us in supporting the Connecticut Food Bank, please visit their website at www.ctfoodbank.org, or on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram at @CTFoodBank.
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