The Institute for Hunger Research & Solutions is offering a series of trainings exclusively for partner agencies in the Connecticut Food Bank/Foodshare network. Please join us!

Offering Client Choice: Promoting Dignity in Food Pantries
June 3, 2021 – 1pm-2pm
Offering food pantry clients the ability to choose the food they take home is a best practice. When clients can choose their own food, it creates an atmosphere of respect and builds trust between clients, staff, and volunteers. Join us to learn more about the importance of client choice and different strategies for offering choice as we recover from the pandemic.
Register here.

Increasing Access to Healthy Food: Nutrition Guidelines for the Charitable Food System
June 24, 2021 – 1pm-2pm
Supporting Wellness at Pantries (SWAP) is a stoplight nutrition system to rank food nutritionally. SWAP is a great tool to increase the supply and demand for healthy food in food banks and pantries. SWAP is aligned with the new Healthy Eating Research, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, recently released a set of Nutrition Guidelines for the Charitable Food System. Join us to learn more and receive resources to get started using SWAP.
*This training is targeted towards partner agencies who are not yet familiar with SWAP.
Register here.

Creating a Welcoming and Dignified Culture: Focusing on Customer Service
July 22, 2021 – 1pm-2pm
Experiencing hunger can be humbling, and asking for help is hard. Food pantries and meal programs can create an inviting environment that respects the dignity of each client, where clients feel respected. We encourage food pantries to build connections with other existing community services and offer referrals, classes or workshops where there are opportunities for skill building. Join us to learn more about the important values integral to a welcoming culture focused on customer service.
Register here.