A Boost for Food Insecurity in CT, Annual 9/11 Ceremony in Westport Tomorrow

September 3, 2025



 

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Dear Neighbor,

September is Hunger Action Month, and we kicked it off yesterday with a press conference at Connecticut Foodshare in Wallingford.

We celebrated the significant increase in funding to the CT-NAP (Connecticut Nutrition Assistance Program) while at the same time, shared our mutual concerns about the cuts coming from the federal level to SNAP and other programs that help both our hungry neighbors and Connecticut farmers. More coverage in the section about the event below.
 
I had the pleasure of sitting with Daniel Newmeyer of the CT Politics TV show last week. This was my first time on the show, so the first part of the interview was more "getting to know you," and the second half was about what recently happened to my colleague Representative Corey Paris. I hope you enjoy it.
 
There is an exciting opportunity coming up to meet the legendary Budweiser Clydesdale horses this Friday at the Capitol building, details below. And, save the date for a conversation with the Connecticut League of Conservation voters coming up on September 9th from 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. at Beanz & Co in Avon.
 
We will be taking a short break from our lengthier newsletters for the next two weeks due to some staffing changes, but rest assured, if you need anything, you can always email me at Eleni.KavrosDeGraw@cga.ct.gov.
 
Have a good week,

Eleni

A Boost for Food Insecurity in CT

I was proud to stand with my former colleagues at Connecticut Foodshare on the first day of #HungerActionMonth as we celebrated the legislative win of the CT-NAP (nutritional assistance program) bill.

For more than 20 years, the state provided CT-NAP with around $850,000. While my request as co-chair of the bipartisan Feeding Connecticut Caucus (alongside Senator Berthel) was $10 million, we are grateful to House and Senate leadership and Governor Ned Lamont for agreeing to $3 million in FY ‘26 and $6 million in FY ‘27.

This money can only be spent on food, and 15% of it will be used to buy produce from CT farmers who were hit hard by federal cuts.

We know there will be cuts to SNAP, and while we are unsure of their timing, people are hungry in Connecticut now: 1 in 7 adults and 1 in 6 kids. These numbers have dramatically increased since 2020.

As I said at the press conference, you don’t have to experience food insecurity to benefit from programs like SNAP and WIC.

They account for 15-20% of grocery store purchases and help keep grocery prices in check. If these programs disappear, our already skyrocketing grocery prices will only continue to rise as grocery stores seek to replace those sales.

For information on where you can access a Connecticut Foodshare mobile pantry or to donate, please click HERE. Please click on the image below for Fox 61's coverage and to hear my comments from the press conference.
 

Connecticut's Annual 9/11 Ceremony is Tomorrow

As always, you are invited to attend the State of Connecticut’s annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony, honoring and celebrating the lives of those killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, on Thursday, at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Please click on the picture below for more details.
(Photo credit Westport Patch)
 

Avon Volunteer Fire Department Memorial Service on 9/11 

The Avon Volunteer Fire Department will host its annual 9/11 Memorial Service at Avon Volunteer Fire Department Headquarters, 25 Darling Drive, next Thursday at 7:45 a.m. and convene to remember, reflect, and recommit.
  
Avon is one of the few towns in the state that does its own memorial.
 

The Budweiser Clydesdales Come to Hartford Friday
 

House Speaker Matt Ritter and Hartford Distributors Inc., joined by Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, will be hosting the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales outside the State Capitol on Friday, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Clydesdale team will be in Connecticut to showcase Folds of Honor, a nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of U.S. military service members and first responders who have fallen or been disabled while serving our country and communities.
 
A full eight-horse team, harnessed and hitched to the famous red beer wagon, complete with Driver and a Dalmatian, will be at the event. Please click on the video below to see and learn a little more about this majestic breed.
 
 

Sip & Celebrate Climate Action on September 9th
 

I hope you can join me for Sip & Celebrate Climate Action at BeanZ & Co. Cafe, 11 East Main Street in Old Avon Village. We can talk about the legislation we passed regarding the environment, and what you're looking forward to in the future.

Please click on the image below to register for this event.

I hope to see you there!
 

Generation Power Energy Assistance Program is Open

The Generation Power CT (GPCT) Emergency Energy Assistance Program is open and will run through Wednesday, September 10th. 

This program provides a one-time grant of up to $500 to help eligible Connecticut households with electric, gas, or fuel expenses.

Increasing energy costs are a challenge for many in the state, but through this program, GPCT has helped to provide families across Connecticut with secure access to heat, power, and water.
 
All GPCT energy programs are available to income-eligible households making up to 75% SMI gross household income. 

Each income-eligible household that receives a GPCT Energy Assistance Award will receive up to $500 toward a future fuel delivery or toward a past-due utility bill. For the best chance of approval and to make full use of this once-per-12-months grant, GPCT strongly encourages households to apply for assistance when they are most in need. GPCT has four Energy Assistance Application Cycles:

  • September 2-10
  • November 2-10
  • January 2-10
  • March 2-10 

 Click HERE to learn more about eligibility requirements and application materials.
 

"Hey, Did That Bill Ever Pass Somewhere Else?"

The 2025 OLR Bill Tracking report is now available. This report identifies bills considered during the recent legislative session whose content or concepts were incorporated into other legislation, under different bill numbers, that the legislature then passed.

During this session, the content or concepts originating in at least 201 bills were incorporated into other legislation that was enacted in 51 public acts. Click on the image below to view this report and track down the bill concepts of interest.
 

A Conversation With Dan Newmyer and CT Politics TV

Click on the image below to watch last week's interview with host Dan Newmyer and CT Politics TV.
 

Fire Safe CT

Fire Safe CT, a new statewide initiative aimed at reducing fire-related tragedies through public education and community support, has been launched!

This coordinated effort brings together state and local agencies, fire service professionals, and health care experts with one shared goal: to protect Connecticut residents and their communities from the dangers of fire.

Core Objectives:

  • Public Education: delivering clear, actionable fire prevention tips through multimedia campaigns—highlighting home safety, outdoor fire management, and burn injury prevention
  • Community Empowerment: providing local fire departments and municipal fire marshals with enhanced tools, educational materials, and support to boost community-level fire risk reduction efforts

To learn more and get involved, click HERE, and for tips on outdoor fire safety, click HERE to learn how to protect your home, property, and the first responders who serve us.

Together, we can create a safer, more fire-aware Connecticut.
 

Today in Connecticut History

On this day in 1824, Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier — the Marquis de Lafayette —  journeyed through Connecticut during his 1824-1825 “Last Man” grand tour of America. click on his image below for more details.
 

Canton Dog Park 5th Anniversary Celebration

The Friends of Canton Dog Park will be celebrating the park's fifth anniversary on Sunday, October 26th, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This Dog Fair will include games, contests, auctions, prizes, food, dog adoptions, and much more. Stay tuned!

Sincerely,

Eleni Kavros DeGraw
State Representative

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