Madison Officials Receive Update on Town's Hunger Report

At a recent Board of Selectmen meeting Madison officials discussed the town’s hunger report from the Youth and Family Services Department.

The full report is listed below but some of the highlights are: the need for the Shoreline Soup Kitchen and Pantries has increased 31 percent since 2013, 126 Madison students receive a free and or reduced lunch, and that town officials would like to see more people use the lunch services.

From the selectmen’s meeting minutes:

Discuss Presentation of the Town’s hunger report from the Youth and Family Services Department.

DISCUSSION: Social Services Coordinator, Wendy Larson, stated that she was presenting information and data regarding a Hunger Report which came from the Shoreline Soup Kitchen and Pantries. The main goal of this report is to educate communities and to show that the need has increased 31% since 2013 and to also show the families and residents being served in Madison and along the shoreline.

She noted that residents of Madison may frequent other Towns’ pantries for several reasons, such as; to remain anonymous and because of the hours that the Madison Food Pantry is open.

She stated that the checklist did not include information on the Senior Center Café and also the Home-bound shopper service. Ms. Larson also noted that the after-school program does not offer dinner, but rather just a snack and since this information was not accurate in the report, she had contacted the organization to have the information updated.

Ms. Larson stated that there are 99 students who receive a free lunch and 27 students receive a reduced-price lunch. She felt that these numbers were low when compared to the number of residents who were using the food pantry.

Ms. Larson noted that there may be issue again with anonymity and she stated that the schools keep this information confidential. All students receive a food card with funds either applied from their families or through the funding.

She also stated that Clinton provided a free lunch through the summer for any child 18 years old, or younger, if the program was applied for. Ms. Larson noted that one issue with Madison residents using this service this was the need for transportation to the facility which provided the free lunch.

Ms. Larson stated that she felt it was important that the Town know that the Food Pantry was used by residents, and she noted that she helps roughly 200 families in Town (not senior citizens). A family of 4, who lives on $2,600 per month receives free lunch and a family of 4 who lives on $3,030 per month receives a reduced lunch. She also noted that more can always be done.

First Selectman McPherson thanks Ms. Larson for her update and he noted that of the 15 categories quantified by the report, Madison has 13 available to residents.

Selectman Goldberg asked Ms. Larson for any ideas she had as to what else could be done for residents. She responded that she felt more outreach was needed to inform residents of the free / reduced lunch program.

Selectman Stadterman also asked if the thresholds were set by the state or federal government and Ms. Larson stated that the thresholds were set by the federal government. She also suggested that perhaps free lunch could be provided to the students who attend Beach & Recreation programs during the summer, or perhaps the Town could offer a free hot meal throughout the week for residents.

Selectman Hale also stated that the Board of Education would also like to see more residents use the lunch services; however, they can only process information for families who complete the application forms.

Ms. Larson stated that she would like to use the Backpack Express service to send information out to families regarding the lunch assistance program, and also fuel assistance programs, etc.

Selectman Stadterman also asked Ms. Larson for her analysis of the report regarding which categories the Town is successfully fulfilling for its residents. Ms. Larson agreed to submit this information and thanked the Board for their time.