MERIDEN, Conn. (WTNH) – A brand new meals truck helps Meriden Public Faculties fight meals insecurity this summer time.
On Monday, the district launched MPS Categorical, a cellular meals pantry that gives free meals to kids through the summer time months.
The district stated the custom-built bus gives nutritious cold and warm choices, all because of federal funding.
MPS Categorical will serve 1,000 meals every day at 4 areas, which leaders say displays the nice want inside the metropolis.
“A really giant share of our inhabitants receives SNAP, and everyone knows and have seen how considerably the costs of meals and different objects have elevated,” stated Susan Maffe, director of meals and vitamin companies for Meriden Public Faculties.
Statewide, Connecticut Foodshare stated meals insecurity has elevated 23% since 2023.
“There at the moment are about 480,000 folks within the state of Connecticut who’re meals insecure,” stated Jason Jakubowski, president and CEO of Connecticut Foodshare. “It was one in 9 kids. Now it’s one in six kids.”
Jakubowski stated the summer time months are probably the most tough time of 12 months and is when Connecticut Foodshare sees a rise in folks in want.
“Most youngsters in Connecticut are used to receiving one, perhaps two, perhaps three meals a day at their native college; after which when college ends, that simply disappears,” Jakubowski stated. “So it's as much as them and their household the way to substitute these meals.”
The nonprofit has greater than 600 pantries and 113 cellular truck websites throughout the state.
Jakubowski stated the brand new program in Meriden is making a dent within the battle towards meals insecurity.
“What Meriden is doing is implausible,” Jakubowski stated. “I want it could possibly be replicated within the different 168 cities.”