Opinion: The SNAP crisis is not over. But there’s something we can do to feed Connecticut’s hungry

Originally published by Hearst Media Services CT, April 2, 2026.

By Dr. Maya Reddi & Mendi Blue Paca

“I’m hungry.”

Most of us have said those words countless times — usually as a fleeting inconvenience that’s easily solved by opening the fridge or stopping at a store or restaurant.

But for far too many people in our community, hunger is not temporary. It is persistent. Food insecurity—the chronic lack of access to healthy, affordable food—creates an ongoing physical, mental, and emotional strain that limits people’s ability to thrive, participate fully, and contribute meaningfully to community life.

Families with children, seniors, veterans, and people experiencing homelessness are disproportionately affected. And when our neighbors struggle to meet their most basic needs, the consequences ripple outward. We are all diminished—especially in a county known for its affluence and outward signs of prosperity.

At Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, we see both the urgency of this moment and the opportunity to respond. That is why we recently launched the Fairfield County Food Security Fund, a local effort designed to mobilize resources quickly and ensure that everyone in Fairfield County has reliable access to healthy food.

An unforgiving timeline

Some may believe the SNAP crisis triggered by the recent federal government shutdown has passed. It has not. Many vulnerable households are feeling the effects, and conditions are poised to worsen as reductions in federal food assistance and stricter eligibility requirements take effect in 2026. This is a moment that calls for action—not complacency.

According to DataHaven, more than 11,000 Fairfield County families are currently at risk of losing some or all their SNAP benefits. Children in those households could also lose access to free school meals and summer nutrition programs.

Even for families whose benefits remain unchanged, the reality is stark: a modestly priced meal now costs roughly 50% more than the current SNAP allowance.

In a caring and well-resourced community, ensuring our neighbors have enough to eat is a shared responsibility—and the timeline is unforgiving. Additional federal funding changes are looming, while charitable giving typically declines after the holidays.

Acting now matters. With community support, the Food Security Fund can respond quickly to urgent nutritional gaps and serve as a dependable resource for families, children, seniors, and veterans in the months ahead.

Supporting a fast response, and long-term solutions

The Fund provides flexible grants that enable frontline nonprofits and grassroots organizations to sustain services, strengthen supply chains, and stabilize operations, including:

• Neighborhood food banks and hyperlocal pantries, such as those operated by faith-based organizations
• Grassroots food distribution networks delivering directly to families and seniors
• School and afterschool nutrition programs that bridge gaps for children and teens
• Campus food pantries meeting the basic needs of community college students, as well as organizations supporting veterans and people reentering the community after incarceration
• Local farms and community growers affected by federal funding cuts who supply healthy, culturally relevant food to underserved neighborhoods

The Fund also supports advocacy aimed at longer-term, systemic solutions. Fairfield County’s Community Foundation will partner with community-based organizations to advance state-level policies that protect and expand access to nutritious food as federal programs shift.

In 2026, one priority will be joining the campaign to provide free school breakfast for every student in Connecticut—alongside other policy strategies that keep families fed and communities healthy.

Investing in our future

Food security is foundational. Without it, we face cascading consequences: higher rates of chronic disease, increased mental and emotional stress, and greater risks of developmental and learning delays for children. Ensuring consistent access to healthy food strengthens not only individual well-being, but the long-term health and resilience of our entire region.

The bottom line is simple: when we feed our community, we invest in our future.

The next time your stomach growls, consider what it means for those who lack a consistent, healthy way to address that hunger.

Then choose to act—by giving what you can to the Food Security Fund, volunteering at a local food pantry or kitchen, or using your voice to challenge misinformation and indifference when you encounter it.

We know hunger exists in Fairfield County. The question is whether we are willing to confront it.

Let’s do so — now.

Dr. Maya Reddi is Board Chair of Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. Mendi Blue Paca is President and CEO of Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. Visit Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s Food Security Fund at https://FCCFoundation.org/fairfield-county-food-security-fund.