As Federal Food Aid Is Cut, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation Launches Emergency Food Security Fund

An Increasing Number of Fairfield County Families Face SNAP Cuts as New Food Security Fund Launches

NORWALK, Conn. (Jan. 21, 2026) — Fairfield County’s Community Foundation (FCCF) has launched the Fairfield County Food Security Fund to sustain and strengthen the county’s food network amid growing funding challenges and rising demand for food assistance. Since the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a consistent increase in food insecurity, now exacerbated by federal food assistance cuts.

The new Fund will provide immediate and sustained support to ensure families, children, seniors, veterans, and neighbors facing hunger can access food now, and in the months ahead. Recent cuts are expected to disproportionately affect Fairfield County’s most vulnerable residents including young people aging out of foster care, families with teenagers, individuals experiencing homelessness, seniors, and veterans putting many at increased risk of food insecurity.

Despite being one of the wealthiest counties in the nation, Fairfield County is not immune to hunger. According to DataHaven, more than 11,000 families in Fairfield County stand to lose some or all of their SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits due to new federal policy changes. Statewide, 58,000 Connecticut households will see reduced food aid, making Connecticut one of the hardest-hit states in the nation. Overall, Connecticut residents are projected to receive $11 million to $15 million less in food assistance each month. These cuts come at a time when food insecurity rates in Connecticut have reached historic highs, putting even more pressure on families and local main streets.

At the same time, food has become alarmingly unaffordable: a modestly priced meal in Connecticut already costs about 50 percent more than the current SNAP meal allowance covers.

“The Fairfield County Food Security Fund creates the opportunity for community members to rapidly respond to the urgent and growing crisis of food insecurity,” said FCCF Board Chair Dr. Maya Reddi. “We can quickly and efficiently channel donated dollars to provide flexible, timely support to organizations closest to the need to stabilize essential food services today, while strengthening the network our community depends on.”

The Fairfield County Food Security Fund is designed to not only respond to the current crisis but also to address its root causes. Key aspects of the Fund include:

• Reaching Under-Resourced Communities: It intentionally channels support to frontline and under-resourced organizations that might otherwise be overlooked, including neighborhood food banks, grassroots and faith-based distribution networks, school and college pantries, groups serving veterans and people returning from incarceration, and local farms and growers affected by funding cuts, strengthening the entire local food ecosystem when it is under the greatest strain.
• Immediate Relief and Long-Term Support: The Fund provides both rapid-response grants for urgent hunger needs and sustained funding for the months ahead. While charities see a spike in generosity during the holidays, hunger in Fairfield County does not end in January. Flexible grants from the Fund will help partners meet ongoing demand beyond the holiday season, keeping shelves stocked, bolstering strained supply chains, and stabilizing operations well into 2026.
• Driving Systemic Change through Advocacy: Uniquely, the Fund links local philanthropy with policy advocacy for long-term solutions. FCCF and its community partners will work to advance state-level policies that protect and expand access to nutritious food as federal programs shift. In 2026, a top priority will be supporting efforts to establish free school breakfast for all students in Connecticut.
• Broader Impact on Community and Economy: Ensuring families can put food on the table has ripple effects far beyond the dinner plate. Children who aren’t hungry do better in school, workers are healthier and more productive, and seniors can maintain their health and dignity. Moreover, every dollar in SNAP benefits spent at a local market helps keep dollars flowing through neighborhood businesses and supports local jobs. By preventing hunger, the Fairfield County Food Security Fund will also help stabilize the local economy and improve community well-being.

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How to Support the Fairfield County Food Security Fund
Community members can give to the Fairfield County Food Security Fund, support local hunger-relief nonprofits directly, contribute to FCCF’s Community Impact Fund, or raise their voices through advocacy efforts that protect programs that keep families fed.

For more information or to make a gift, visit: https://fccfoundation.org/fairfield-county-food-security-fund/

About Fairfield County’s Community Foundation
Fairfield County’s Community Foundation is partnering with our community to create a county where every person has an equitable opportunity to thrive. We work closely with nonprofits, businesses, and philanthropists to address challenges and identify opportunities for a stronger, more vibrant region. Informed by three decades of partnership and impact, FCCF has awarded more than $420 million in grants to nonprofits in Fairfield County and beyond. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:
Turn Two Communications
Jeremiah Simon
Jeremiah@turn-two.co
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