Hartford Community Coalition Inc

HARTFORD COMMUNITY COALITION IS A COLLABORATIVE GROUP OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT AND PROMOTE THE WELLNESS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. OUR VISION IS FOR HARTFORD TO BE A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE EMBRACE AND ACHIEVE THEIR PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING. OUR COALITION ACTS TO REDUCE THE STIGMA AND IMPACT OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE, FOOD INSECURITY AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES IN SUPPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF A HEALTHY, SAFE, AND RESILIENT HARTFORD.

HARTFORD COMMUNITY COALITION'S TAKE A BITE OUT OF HUNGER (TABOOH) INITIATIVE, PROVIDES THOUSANDS OF LUNCHES MONDAY-FRIDAY DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE UPPER VALLEY. THIS PROGRAM BEGAN WITH THE GOAL OF PROVIDING ONE NUTRITIOUS MEAL, 5 DAYS EACH WEEK FOR NINE WEEKS OF SCHOOL'S SUMMER BREAK TO LOW INCOME CHILDREN IN LEBANON AND HARTFORD WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE STRUCTURE PROVIDED BY SCHOOL MEALS BETWEEN JUNE AND AUGUST. IN 2021, TABOOH DISTRIBUTED OVER 23,000 MEALS TO UPPER VALLEY CHILDREN AND ADULTS. TABOOH CLOCKED 770 VOLUNTEER HOURS FROM VOLUNTEERS. IN ADDITION, 470 SNACK PACKS WERE DELIVERED ON FRIDAYS FOR FAMILIES OVER THE WEEKEND. THIS EFFORT IS POSSIBLE WITH PART-TIME SEASONAL EMPLOYEES, HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS, NUMEROUS COLLABORATIONS WITH LOCAL LIBRARIES, SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, HARTFORD PARKS & RECREATION, WILLING HANDS, THE WHITE RIVER ROTARY, AND EMPLOYEES AT LOCAL BUSINESSES. IN ANOTHER EFFORT TO END HUNGER, HCC TOOK CHARGE OF DELIVERING 144 THANKSGIVING MEALS TO NEEDY FAMILIES.

HARTFORD COMMUNITY COALITION OFFERS PREVENTION PROGRAMMING(DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES). HCC OFFERED A NUMBER OF TRAININGS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC INCLUDING: YOUTH AND TEEN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID, TECHNICOOL: KEEPING KIDS SAFE ON THE INTERNET, AND UMATTER: SUICIDE PREVENTION. WE HAVE PROUDLY FACILITATED 5 COMMUNITY FORUMS AND TWO ONLINE MEETINGS TO DISCUSS CONCERNS INCLUDING A BROAD RANGE OF TOPICS, INCLUDING SAFETY,SUBSTANCE MISUSE, MENTAL HEALTH AND RESILIENCE. WE WORK WITH HARTFORD MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS WITH "GETTING TO Y", A PROGRAM TO CREATE EFFECTIVE SUSTAINABLE CHANGE IN YOUTH BEHAVIOR,COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL CULTURE. ADDITIONALLY,"UMATTER" EFFORTS WORK WITH THE LARGER COMMUNITY TO PREVENT SUICIDE AND RESPOND WITH TIMELY SUPPORT AND RESOURCES IF A SUICIDE TRAGEDY SHOULD HAPPEN. HARTFORD COMMUNITY COALITION ALSO WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE HARTFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT TO SUPPORT "NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK DAYS" - TO PROMOTE THE SAFE DISPOSAL OF UNUSED PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2021 HCC GAVE AWAY OVER 130 FREE LOCK BOXES FOR SAFE STORAGE OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS.

INITIATED IN THE EARLY SUMMER OF 2015, THE BLOCK PARTY CELEBRATES HARTFORD'S RESOURCES AND YOUTH PROGRAMMING. IT SHOWCASES PERFORMANCES OF MUSIC, DANCE AND OTHER ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN IN THE TOWN OF HARTFORD, GATHERS TOGETHER HUNDREDS OF HARTFORD RESIDENTS AND DOZENS OF HEALTH AGENCIES AND WELLNESS ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT OUR MISSION. THE 7TH ANNUAL PARTY WAS HELD ON JUNE 15TH WITH OVER 500 IN ATTENDANCE AND 38 SOCIAL SERVICE AND WELLNESS VENDORS AROUND THE PARK.