Daughters of Wisdom Award $5,000 Grant to Friendly Hands Food Bank

With the season of holiday food drives for needy families upon us, it is more important than ever that food banks receive support, due to an unprecedented increase in food insecurity in many communities. A $5,000 grant from the Daughters of Wisdom Grant Fund to Friendly Hands Food Bank in Torrington, Connecticut, is helping to support the organization's efforts to feed hungry people in that local area.   

The Friendly Hands Food Bank provides food to families, seniors, and individuals facing food insecurity in Northwest, CT. As the largest food bank in northwestern Connecticut, this organization serves over 40,000 meals per month out of a modest facility in Torrington, Connecticut. They receive no federal, state, or local funds and rely on the generosity of donors, grants, businesses and individuals to fund their mission. Their clientele has grown tremendously due to increased need; pre-pandemic in 2020 they served 300 clients. Post-pandemic they are currently serving over 5,000 families with a rise of three to seven new families each weekday. The grant from the Daughters of Wisdom was used to purchase three main staple food items for clients: tuna fish, peanut butter, and jelly, which were bought in mass quantities. These items are placed into clients’ core food boxes that are given out to them to supplement their groceries.  

“The funding that we received from the grant from the Daughters of Wisdom was a lifeline for our food bank, and we are so blessed. Thank you so much to the Daughters of Wisdom for your generous support,” said Karen Thomas, Executive Director of the Friendly Hands Food Bank. 

Karen added, “In the last three months alone, we have seen an increase of 200 clients per month. So, that is 600 new clients. With the fluctuating economy, and the high prices of grocery items like eggs and meat, we are not able to able to keep up with demand to help people who cannot feed themselves. We are seeing an increase in numbers like we’ve never seen before in the 33 years of our existence.” Established in 1991, the mission of Friendly Hands Food Bank is to provide the most basic human right, food, to those facing food insecurity.  

In their grant application, Friendly Hands Food Bank noted that due to the unprecedented increase in families reaching out for help, the organization has been forced to seek alternative funding to keep food on the shelves.  

This grant was endorsed by Sr. Rosemarie Greco, D.W., who wrote in her letter of recommendation, “I am submitting this grant application for Friendly Hands Food Bank; I have witnessed their service to a vulnerable community. Their mission resonates with the Daughters of Wisdom, as they address injustice and poverty. They see food as a human right.” Sr. Rosemarie continued, “I could not help but think of Blessed Marie Louise Trichet, who said that, ‘Faith is the Daily Bread of the Daughters of Wisdom.’ Surely, she would respond to this food insecurity.” 

A picture of the food staples that were purchased for families using the grant from the Daughters of Wisdom.