Larson Announces $250,000 for La Bodeguita De La Gente and Connecticut Food Bank/Foodshare

Hartford, CT – Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) announced that his $250,000 community funding request for La Bodeguita De La Gente and Connecticut Food Bank/Foodshare was included in the House Transportation/HUD/Economic Development Initiatives Appropriations bill.

Ingmar Riveros and Xiomy De La Cruz created La Bodeguita de La Gente during the pandemic to provide a local food pantry in the Frog Hollow neighborhood in Hartford. They are an integral part of the community that they serve, especially for our undocumented and immigrant community members for whom they have become a trusted resource and safe space. In addition to food, they also distribute diapers and other baby products on the weekends. As trusted members of the community, they have built strong relationships with the people they serve and work to provide other key services like connecting clients to health services. They currently serve 400 families per week.

"I first visited La Bodeguita de La Gente and saw firsthand the community Ingmar and Xiomy created and how they helped so many local families. I'm proud to announce that included in the Appropriations package for FY2022 is $250,000 for Connecticut Food Bank/Foodshare to support La Bodeguita de La Gente. This funding will allow Ingmar, Xiomy, and Connecticut Food Bank/Foodshare to continue to be a vital resource to Hartford families," said Larson.

"We are honored and humbled to receive this funding in partnership with Congressman Larson and La Bodeguita de la Gente. The community that Xiomy, Ingmar and everyone at La Bodeguita have built speaks not only to the level of need - but to the level of commitment to fighting hunger in Hartford. This funding will sustain hundreds of families in the Frog Hollow neighborhood and ensure that this critical work continues," said Jason Jakubowski, President & CEO, Connecticut Food Bank/Foodshare.

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