By Gretchen Webster

WESTPORT–With the federal government shutdown, the uncertain status of the federal SNAP food assistance program, federal job cuts, and grocery price inflation, there are many families in Westport experiencing food insecurity, according to both Elaine Daignault, director of the Westport Human Services Department, and Helen McAlinden, president and CEO of Homes with Hope, a Westport organization dedicated to ending homelessness and food insecurity.

“There are 500 households in Westport on SNAP,” [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] Daignault said at a meeting of TEAM Westport on Thursday. “We have had more referrals in the last two months than I can recall in all my years here,” she said.

McAlinden agreed in a phone call on Friday. “We’ve never seen as many people coming to our food pantry,” she said. The Gillespie Center has been serving over a thousand people in recent months. 

On Thursday, Connecticut joined a coalition of 25 states opposing the federal government’s plan to only partially fund the SNAP program. “We are back to court today to force Donald Trump to fully fund SNAP and to stop the President from purposely and illegally starving American families for political leverage. He has the funds and the authority to fully fund SNAP today,” Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said in a press release.

“With many of our clients experiencing a reduction in SNAP benefits, the need for food support has surged dramatically,” McAlinden said. “Homes with Hope’s Gillespie Center has seen a 70% increase in the number of individuals and families seeking assistance.  By the end of today, nearly 400 individuals will have visited our food pantry in just 4 days.”

The Gillespie Center homeless shelter, 45 Jesup Road, has opened a “Grab and Go” food pantry with pre-packaged bags of eggs, fruit and vegetables, items people in need can pick up quickly to avoid long two to three-hour lines. “Yesterday there was a woman with a baby waiting in line in the cold,” McAlinden said, and the pantry workers brought them inside. 

“Anyone who comes to us on SNAP, we are going to help them,” Daginault said, pointing out that in some cases they are immigrant parents, sometimes undocumented but with children who are U.S. residents, needing food assistance.  There are also many senior citizens in need of help on the SNAP program, she said.

The Human Services Department offers many different services, she said, and refers clients in need to the Westport Woman’s Club food pantry, as well as the Gillespie Center. The town is lucky to have some funds left over from Covid government grants which can be used now to help feed the hungry, Daignault added.

“Many are really struggling,” she said.

McAlinden said that Westport’s local food markets have been helpful by donating food, as well as some private donors who are providing funds to purchase food. “No matter how much food we buy, it’s gone,” she said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” 

The Gillespie Center food pantry also has personal hygiene items available like diapers and toothpaste she said, which are not always available in food pantries. “For many, this support has been essential,” McAlinden said. “Clients have shared that our pantry helps relieve the stress and uncertainty that comes with trying to feed their families during a time of reduced benefits and rising costs. Knowing they can come to us for healthy food options has been extremely beneficial.”

Anyone who needs help with providing food for themselves or their families can contact the Westport Human Services Department at www.westportct.gov/humanservices or call 203-341-1165. 

The Gillespie Center food pantry, 45 Jesup Road, is open Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., and on Thursday from 1:30 to 6 p.m.

For other information or to make donations to the Town of Westport Food Fund visit the Human Services Department website or www.westportct.gov/donate or mail donations to Westport Human Services, 110 Myrtle Ave., Westport CT 06880. To donate to Homes With Hope, visit https://www.hwhct.org/, write to info@hwhct.org, or call 226-3426.