Hartford families struggling with food insecurity now have a new lifeline. Angel of Edgewood, a local nonprofit, launched a weekly community‑meal program called Wednesdays at the Table at the Bertera Subaru dealership. The free hot‑meal service is open to anyone in the surrounding area who is having trouble putting food on the table, including residents temporarily staying in motels while they search for permanent housing.
Helping single parents and the unhoused
Founder Jendayi Scott explained that the initiative was designed to support people facing both housing and food insecurity. “People who are unhoused and temporarily staying in some of the motels in the area all face food insecurities,” she said.
One of those families is Hartford resident Scott Toce, a single father who raises his 18‑year‑old son while living in a nearby motel. Despite working full time, Toce told us that rising costs have made it increasingly difficult to afford everyday necessities. “It’s outrageous. I’m a single father; I have an 18‑year‑old son and you just have enough just to get by nowadays,” he said.
Toce said the meals stretch his family’s food budget because a single serving can provide enough food for more than one meal. “It could last a long way because you could have half of it for lunch and half of it for dinner. That’s a great thing,” he added.
Why the program matters now
The program arrives at a time when families across Connecticut continue to grapple with food insecurity. A recent survey by UConn and Connecticut Foodshare found that more than half of households that visit food pantries have children, while about one‑third report having jobs.
Scott emphasized that the rising cost of living makes programs like Wednesdays at the Table especially important. “The economy is so expensive right now, and hey, anybody can use a free cooked meal,” she said.
Looking ahead
Angel of Edgewood plans to keep the free meals coming every Wednesday through Thanksgiving, providing a reliable source of nutrition for families like Toce’s while they work toward more stable housing.
For Toce, the program offers not just a warm plate but also a chance to save money for other essential expenses. “Five dollars nowadays doesn’t get you far, so that kind of food will get you a lot farther,” he said.
Community members and local businesses are encouraged to support the effort, whether by donating food, volunteering, or spreading the word to neighbors in need. As the cost of living continues to rise, initiatives like this demonstrate how faith‑based nonprofits and local partners can come together to protect families and uphold the values of traditional families and individual liberty.
Original reporting: NBC Connecticut — read the source article.
