Did you know that Hands On Hartford has a food pantry that serves over 650 families every month – and that we are the only halal friendly pantry in the area? 

One of our pantry visitors, Sania, works nearby and appreciates that she can stop here on her way home from work. She and her family (five kids between the ages of 1 and 12, along with her mother) keep a halal diet and it’s such a help to her that we’re able to provide halal meat and that our other pantry staples are labeled if they are not halal – it makes her visit quicker and she can get home faster. Without this support, she would not be able to cover the cost of transportation to her job – or keep up with rent and utilities. That’s what we’re here for – but only with your support!

Imagine a sunny day in May, gathering together with friends and family – and Hands On Hartford. Join us on Saturday May 20 for this year’s CT Foodshare Walk Against Hunger. We are looking for folks to sign up for the walk, ask for donations of any size from your friends, family and co-workers, and come together in a joint effort to fight hunger and food insecurity in our community. The funds we raise in the walk will support folks who visit our pantry like Sania – and so many more. You can register HERE and click on "Join Team" or "Make a Donation". If you're joining the team please be sure to select Hands On Hartford as your benefiting partner.

Faith In Action

Virtual Open House: Housing Insecurity and Homelessness Prevention

If you missed the March 29 Virtual Open House, you can see a recording of the Zoom session HERE.

(If you need a passcode to view it, it's .jJn8QHJ )

If you have any questions about the session, just contact Kate at kshafer@handsonhartford.org.

Ashley Flagg is a Connecticut Native who gained a love of food through her large family of competitive cooks. In addition to working for Tyler Anderson for years, she has trained with a number of great chefs including Billy Grant, Jamie Bissonnette and Ken Oringer. Ashley takes advantage of the existing relationships Millwright’s has with many local farms and purveyors and lets the seasons guide the menu. She uses these high quality products to build a menu that’s inspired by New England ingredients but showcases Global flavors and cooking techniques. Ashley enjoys cooking simple, well-balanced food that showcases what the farms and New England has to offer.

A former student of the Culinary Institute of America, Kristin Eddy is presently the Executive Pastry Chef of Millwright’s Restaurant & Tavern. Eddy uses her sharp attention to detail and refined creativity to develop, manage, and oversee the pastry program. The outcome is a uniquely delicious dessert constructed with the freshest of ingredients. Prior to her role in Anderson’s restaurants, Eddy distinguished her skills in elite New York City kitchens – including Daniel Boulud’s DB Bistro and Danny Meyer’s Gramercy Tavern. She also received the 2017 Rising Star of the Year award by the Connecticut Restaurant Association. Eddy hopes to continue to build off that success while utilizing the products of local farms and small businesses as staples in each dessert.

Don't forget our friends at Delamar West Hartford, in partnership with Artisan West Hartford, are hosting a Chef’s Tasting Dinner at Artisan Restaurant on Thurs., April 20 at 6PM.

Proceeds of this exclusive tasting dinner will benefit Hands On Hartford and our mission of strengthening the community in Hartford by responding faithfully to people in need, through programs that change lives and renew human possibility.

To learn more and purchase tickets: CLICK HERE!

Our friends and non-profit neighbors, The RiseUP Group/RiseUP for Arts, are hosting an epic immersive art event called "ART maniFESTation: Exploring the Power of Public Art, Creativity, and Culture" on Saturday, May 13, 2023 from 12pm-11pm at both 50 Bartholomew Ave (across the street) and right here at 55 Bartholomew Ave.

Discover the works of your favorite artists, craftspeople, and artisans as they showcase their talents and sell their pieces at the ART Festival. The festival also features a jam-packed schedule of family-friendly activities and musical performances from some of CT's top talent.

Tickets are also available for a "Celebrity Chef Dinner" at Gather55 that evening.

For more info or to purchase tickets for the Celebrity Chef Dinner, click HERE.

(Then click "Register for Event" and then click "Get Tickets")

Look Who Has Their hands on Hartford!

Another great Faces of Homelessness speaking event, this time with Ms. Tomasino and the Student Action Team at CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering Elementary School in Rocky Hill. Our speaker Joe shared his story and had an engaging conversation with this group of 4th and 5th graders. As you can see, they have also been collecting new warm socks and they donated some “no-sew” fleece blankets for our Homeless Outreach team. It’s so wonderful to see young people learning about these challenges and putting their caring into action too.

Looks like the Audit team at Aetna CVS Health had a blast sorting and packing up 200 backpacks for the backpack nutrition program - including donating all of the food that will go out to kids for the weekends! We are so grateful for this support and their partnership in fighting food insecurity in our community. Go team go!

Now that's what we call multi-tasking!

As we underwent some software upgrades, we decided it was about time we gave a proper shout-out to our IT support team, I.T. Resources LLC in East Hartford (www.itresourcesllc.com). We are ever-so-grateful for their ongoing IT support, and always impressed by their speed-of-response, dependability, and trouble-shooting. Thank you to the I.T. Resources team. You are all such an important part of our HOH family.

We remember...

At Hands On Hartford's annual Memorial Service, the extended Hands On Hartford family gathered together to remember those we have lost in a service led by Rev. Donna K. Manocchio, along with the powerful musical voice of Wayne Dixon.