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Free Summer Meals for Children 18 and Under
Bridgeport Public Schools is offering free summer meals for children 18 and under at 18 locations throughout the city. The free summer meals program will run from June 29 through August 7, 2026. Breakfast will be served from 6:30 AM - 9 AM and lunch from 12 PM - 12:30 PM at participating schools and meal sites across Bridgeport. No registration is required.
Participating locations include: Barnum, Bassick HS, Batalla, Blackham, Central HS, Claytor, Cross, Discovery, Fairfield-Wheeler HS, Harding HS, High Horizon, Multicultural, Johnson, Marin, Read, Roosevelt, Tisdale, & Waltersville. Meals are also available at Sunflower Learning Center (1470 Barnum Ave).You can use the U.S. DAG's Summer Meals Site Finder or call 2-1-1 to find participating meal sites throughout the state. Please confirm the location and meal service times before visiting to make sure you don't miss out.
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Registration Now Open for Connecticut's New Paraeducator Preparation Academy
This week, Governor Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker announced a new six-week program to provide aspiring paraeducators with exam preparation, mentorship, and a pathway into Connecticut’s special education workforce.Registration for the Connecticut State Department of Education’s newly launched Paraeducator Preparation Academy is now open.This is a free, six-week program to prepare aspiring paraeducators for the ParaPathways assessment required for employment in Connecticut. Instruction will be provided by certified bilingual educators, covering the full cost of study materials and the exam, and offering Spanish-language support.The inaugural pilot session will begin on August 17th and will run through September 23rd. The program will be held at the Leaders for Educational Advocacy and Diversity (LEAD) Center in East Hartford.Registration is open now through the first day of class (August 17th). Once the session reaches capacity, additional applicants will be placed on a wait list and notified of future academy offerings. Additional sessions across Connecticut are planned to begin this fall.The academy will connect participants who successfully complete the program and pass the ParaPathways assessment with districts seeking to hire paraeducators. Once employed, participants are paired with experienced mentor paraeducators as they begin their careers.Click here to visit the Paraeducator Preparation Academy webpage to learn more and register.
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The American Red Cross Low Blood Supply
The American Red Cross needs our help - the blood supply is critically low - and could cause hospitals to triage blood products, prioritizing the most critical cases, delaying non-emergency procedures, and causing risks for patients who require timely transfusions, including trauma patients, women giving birth, and patients with chronic blood disorders.
Blood donors, especially those with types O+ & B- blood (the biggest shortages right now), and platelet donors are urgently needed to help ensure lifesaving medical care isn't delayed for patients.
Basic eligibility for whole blood donation:
- Donation frequency: Every 56 days, up to 6 times a year
- You must be in good health and feeling well
- You must be at least 16 years old in most states
- You must weigh at least 110 lbs.
Basic eligibility for platelet donation:
- Donation frequency: Every 7 days, up to 24 times/year
- You must be in good health and feeling well
- You must be at least 17 years old in most states
- You must weigh at least 110 lbs.
There are also options to donate Power Red and plasma (eligibility can be found here - https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements.html
Find a blood drive near you: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive
The need for blood is constant. The supply isn't.
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Responsible Budgeting Delivers Another Budget Surplus
Connecticut has completed its eighth straight fiscal year with a budget surplus, demonstrating that responsible budgeting and adherence to our state's fiscal guardrails continue to deliver results.
This year's $411.7 million General Fund surplus and $22.7 million Special Transportation Fund surplus allows Connecticut to continue making smart investments, help pay down billions in long term debt, and protect taxpayers.
Under state law, surplus funds will also help strengthen Connecticut's Early Childhood Endowment, creating a long-term funding source to expand access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education and support working families.
By making responsible financial decisions today, we're ensuring Connecticut remains well-positioned to invest in priorities like education, transportation, public safety, and other essential services while planning for the future.
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As always, please feel free to contact me at 800-842-8267 or by email at Andre.Baker@cga.ct.gov. And for news and legislative updates, please visit my official Facebook page.
Sincerely,
Andre Baker |
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