Connecticut Organizations Work to Keep Food Out of Trash Bins

Volunteers in Connecticut are working around the clock to find ways to save food from being thrown away, reducing a huge issue for the little state.

Sarah Bromley travels around the New Haven area to different grocery stores so that she can collect surplus food. This excess food is then delivered to social-service organizations in the area.

“It’s hard to wrap your head around the sheer quantity of food that is thrown out in our country,” Bromley said. “We’re not only feeding people, we’re helping to keep food out of the trash.”

State lawmakers estimate that food waste is responsible for 24% of the waste stream in Connecticut. Bromley volunteers for Haven’s Harvest, a food recover organization in Connecticut that works to save perishable and prepared food from grocery stores, bakeries, and restaurants so it can be donated to those who could use it.

“We bring food to schools, day-care centers, senior day centers, subsidized housing units, health clinics, sober homes, faith centers, social service organizations,” said Lori Martin, who founded Haven’s Harvest with her son and daughter.

Also leading the charge against food waste is Sister Lusia who works for Apostle Immigrant Services in New Haven. Every week, Apostle prepares food boxes for 60 families plus Apostle runs a pop-up pantry where people are seen lining up well before it opens.

“Haven’s Harvest helps people like us provide food where we otherwise wouldn’t because we don’t have the requirements to be a food pantry,” Sister Luisa said. “It does allow us safely to distribute food once a week.”

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