Push On For Hartford Bodegas To Sell Healthier Food

HARTFORD, CT — Saint Francis Hospital has received a two-year, $275,000 grant to help North Hartford bodegas offer more fresh and nutritious foods while supporting neighborhood small businesses.

The grant from the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation, formerly the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, will fund the Healthy Bodega Small Business Support Pilot Program.

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A bodega is a small, neighborhood convenience store or corner shop that sells basic food, drinks, and household items.

The word comes from Spanish—where it originally means a wine cellar, storeroom, or wine shop—and is widely used in urban areas.

The program was developed through the Transforming Communities Initiative-North Hartford Collaborative, led by Saint Francis, Trinity Health, YWCA Hartford Region, and other community partners.

Participating bodegas will receive support to expand healthy food offerings, develop sustainable business practices, and connect with local growers and distributors.

The initiative also calls for nutrition education opportunities for residents.

"Access to healthy food is fundamental to good health," said Carolyn Alessi, regional director of Community Health and Well-Being for Trinity Health Of New England. "This investment will help us build on the strengths that already exist in North Hartford by supporting neighborhood business owners, connecting community resources and creating sustainable opportunities for residents to access healthier food options closer to home."

Organizers said the program grew out of outreach to North Hartford residents, who identified access to healthy food as a priority for improving health and quality of life.

The initiative seeks to address neighborhoods where less nutritious food choices significantly outnumber healthier alternatives while also recognizing bodegas as established neighborhood businesses.

The new funding builds on a four-year, $1.2 million Transforming Communities Initiative investment by Trinity Health in Hartford, along with a 10% local matching commitment from Saint Francis.

Tim Stanton, vice president of philanthropy for Trinity Health Of New England, said the new grant would help put a proposal developed with residents into practice.

"This grant will help turn a resident-generated vision into action while creating a model that can inform future efforts to improve food access, support small business and promote health equity across our community," Stanton said.

Saint Francis and its partners said they hope the pilot will better connect residents, neighborhood businesses, food suppliers, health care providers and community organizations while strengthening North Hartford's local food economy.