A ribbon cutting was held on Sept. 15, 2026, officially opening the food pantry Hartford Deaf Kitchen at the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford.

By Ronni Newton

There were plenty of rounds of enthusiastic applause – both clapping and visual applause – as the opening of the brand new Hartford Deaf Kitchen (HDK) food pantry was celebrated Tuesday morning on the grounds of the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford.

The community food pantry, which operates in an American Sign Language-rich environment, will distribute free groceries – perishables as well as non-perishables – to the Deaf community on Tuesdays and Saturdays from space on the first floor of the Holt Building on the ASD campus.

A similar pantry was first established in Rochester, New York in 2023, on the grounds of the Rochester School for the Deaf, and since then the nonprofit Rochester Deaf Kitchen has successfully served that community, offering important accessibility to a critical resource. HDK is the second location established by Rochester Deaf Kitchen, and is operating in partnership with Connecticut Foodshare.

Food insecurity “is becoming even more rampant in our country, considering the rising cost of food in our country,” said Rochester Deaf Kitchen President Fred Weiner, who served as emcee for the celebratory event. He noted that it’s getting harder to address those needs, including in the Deaf community, and it’s exciting to see the service brought to West Hartford.

“We had a vision, to serve a small number of people in our community who were deaf, who might need food,” said Weiner. There was a long line the very first day, he said, and in three years more than 700,000 pounds of food have been distributed by the RDK pantry.

ASD Executive Director Jeff Bravin said it was easy to say yes and it was a “no brainer” when he was approached by the Rochester Deaf Kitchen about opening a pantry in West Hartford. “They had everything worked out, all the information, everything that was needed was clearly outlined, and I was so impressed.”

In addition, the former RDK manager, Janeva Mosher, was actually planning to relocate to the Hartford area and is now the manager of HDK – a great benefit to the seamlessness of the partnership which will strengthen the entire community, he said.

“We are honored to serve as the home of Hartford Deaf Kitchen and proud to bring this important resource to Connecticut through our partnership,” Bravin said. “By providing equitable access to nutritious food in a welcoming, language-accessible environment, we hope to foster connection, promote equity, and ensure that members of the Deaf community feel welcomed, understood, and supported. We look forward to seeing the lasting impact Hartford Deaf Kitchen will have on individuals and families throughout Greater Hartford.

ASD Board of Directors President Barbara Cassin said opening HDK was “another historic milestone on our campus and in our commitment to serve the Deaf community,” which will now be able to communicate their questions and needs and “receive services with dignity and independence.”

Connecticut Foodshare CEO Jason Jakubowski said he first learned about the Rochester Deaf Kitchen from his counterpart in Rochester, who asked if he was familiar with the American School for the Deaf. Jakubowski, a longtime West Hartford resident, was indeed very familiar with ASD – and that conversation spurred the connection with Zachary Ennis, founder and executive director of the Rochester Deaf Kitchen, and the beginning of the Connecticut Foodshare partnership.

“We have 600 food pantries across the state of Connecticut but this is the first, and only, that is dedicated 100% to the Deaf community,” said Jakubowski. “That is a milestone for us. It is a milestone for you.”

In Connecticut, like everywhere in the country, “hunger doesn’t care about an individual’s demographics,” Jakubowski added, and marginalized communities are often overlooked although the services are just as necessary. “So today is a great celebration for all of you, but also a great celebration for us,” he said.

While Connecticut is the richest state in the country, Jakubowski said, there are still 550,000 people experiencing food insecurity, and while there is plenty of affluence in West Hartford, the town’s food pantry serves 7,000 families a year. “And here, at the Hartford Deaf Kitchen, you are helping us make a big dent in that piece of Connecticut that we’re not proud of, which is hunger. … And serving people in a way that has dignity, in a way that meets people where they are, in a way that allows them the services that they need.”

Ennis said the Rochester Deaf Kitchen was “started with the firm belief that all people have the right to food, including Deaf people.” Since its opening, he added, they have learned so many things. “The main thing is that when you create a safe space where everyone can come and understand each other without effort, seamless communication, it then allows them to become independent during a very vulnerable time.”

RDK’s goal is to fill the gaps, Ennis added, expressing excitement for this new chapter at ASD.

On a tour of the HDK pantry after the ribbon was cut, Jakubowski was amazed by the set-up and capacity of the space. “The fact that they’re starting with coolers and refrigeration is a huge plus,” he said.

HDK also offers pantry users the benefit of choice, he said – rather than handing out bags of food which may have items they don’t like, or can’t eat due to dietary restrictions. In addition to food for humans, there is also some pet food and household items.

But it was the ample cold storage and ability to distribute fresh food that struck Jakubowski the most. “This is very impressive. I don’t know when I’ve seen another new pantry with so much cold storage,” he said, noting that Connecticut Foodshare is ready and able to provide them with as much fresh food as they can take.

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