Lines at the emergency food distribution at Rentschler Field in East Hartford in April 2020.
The state of Connecticut on Thursday announced the launch of ConnectiCorps, a service-based program intended to put young people to work and provide for needs in the community by serving non-profits.
The program starts on Aug. 1 and will focus on food security, housing and antipoverty assistance in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The governor's office said this is an AmeriCorps program that will provide a "modest income and a stipend" for higher-education costs for young adults in Connecticut.
Sixty to 80 part-time members will provide 70,000 and 90,000 hours of service at up to 20 nonprofit sites. They will be given uniforms, hand sanitizer, COVID-safety training and PPE.
“This initiative is the essence of why we exist as a community foundation,” Jay Williams, the CEO of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, said.
The program is funded by a grant from the Hartford Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund and an AmeriCorps state and federal grant.
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The budget is around $800,000, including a $450,000 grant from the federal government, and matching funds from foundations, Jacqueline Johnson, the executive director of Serve Connecticut, said.
Gov. Ned Lamont took part ion the news conference at 11:30 a.m. and said there are a lot of people in need and a lot of young people who have been sidelined and are in need of work.
“I’m grateful to the Connecticut Community Nonprofit Alliance and the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving for their leadership and creativity in developing and launching this critical program. Nonprofits across the state are on the frontlines of the COVID emergency, providing critically needed services to vulnerable people across Connecticut. The ConnectiCorps program is a great way to provide support to those nonprofits and to offer to our young people the opportunity for public service in these times of great challenge to our communities,” he said in a statement.
The news conference was held in Bloomfield, at Foodshare.
