As the federal government shutdown continues and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits are suspended after November 1, thousands of Connecticut students and families are facing new uncertainty about where their next meal will come from.
Teachers know firsthand that students who come to school hungry are not ready to learn, and that’s why the Connecticut Education Association, the state’s largest teachers’ union, is stepping up to help. Today, CEA announced a $1,000 donation to Foodshare and issued a statewide challenge to every local school district, community, and business to join in supporting Connecticut families during this difficult time.
“No child or family should go hungry because of politics,” said CEA President Kate Dias. “As we watch gridlock in Washington hurt our students, their families, and our communities, Connecticut’s educators are once again stepping forward to take care of our students—not just in the classroom, but at the dinner table—and we can’t do it alone. We need everyone to join the effort and help keep food on the table for our students and their families.”
There are 360,000 Connecticut residents who reply on SNAP benefits every day.
“Every dollar that gets donated to us is two meals, so CEA’s donation represents 2,000 meals for people across the state of Connecticut,” said Jason Jakubowski, president and CEO of Connecticut Foodshare. “We serve every municipality. There isn’t a single community that has no residents experiencing food insecurity. Here in the richest state in the country in 2025, it’s sad that we have this need, but we’re very appreciative that CEA is helping us out. It’s definitely needed now more than ever.”
CEA is encouraging all local school districts, communities, and businesses to join the effort by making a financial contribution to Connecticut Foodshare or donating food items to their local food bank.
How to Participate:
- Make a monetary donation to Connecticut Foodshare
- Drop off a food donation to your local food bank
- Post about your donation (photo or video) on Facebook or Instagram
- Tag @cea_teachers on Instagram and use the hashtag #WeAreNEA
“Teachers have always gone above and beyond for their students,” said Dias. “This is one more way we’re showing that commitment—making sure no child in Connecticut goes hungry this fall, and we encourage everyone to join us.”
