For the People

If you're driving out of Derby heading north along the Housatonic, we want to tell you about that bright blue and white building and the great folks who run and support St. Vincent de Paul of the Valley's Thrift Shoppe & Food Bank. Check out how they turn thousands of second hand items into an amazing outpouring to address food insecurity across the Naugatuck Valley region.

Then we'll continue with our year-long series celebrating 2026 - the International Year of the Woman Farmer, by getting to know Chris Bassette and her operation - Killam & Bassette Farmstead. Hear how she and her husband and Connecticut's next-gen farmers are running a diversified agriculture operation featuring produce, eggs, pork, chicken, and tobacco, all of which they market through their CSA program, farm stand, multiple farmers’ markets, farm dinners and more. 

Finally, we'll circle back to the subject of food insecurity and how demand for assistance is still increasing as we bring back the director of CT Foodshare. As we head into spring, it's important to keep thinking about hungry children and families in our own neighborhoods. So, tune in and we'll tell you how to help make the most difference.

Today, we'll sit down with the person heading up Connecticut's Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) through the Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging. They've got a few scenarios to discuss that can help folks on Medicare better understand how scammers can cleverly begin taking advantage of them, and some other good advice to help folks better understand this segment of health care coverage.

Then, we'll visit with the new acting executive director at the Center for Family Justice. We'll find out what that agency has been doing to step up their game under their  leadership to better protect and support families in crisis across the region - and let you know how you can help support that effort.

And we'll close chatting with a Griffin Health’s Physical Medicine specialist, previewing a free series of talks on Body Mechanics and Adaptive Equipment to help aging adults across the Naugatuck Valley prevent injury while raking, shoveling and gardening. We'll also talk about how supportive/adaptive equipment can help seniors maintain independence.

For more than 25 years, For the People has been a partner and supporter of Connecticut's Northeast Organic Farming Association chapter and in this Special Report we mark the next chapter in that relationship bringing our microphone to the floor of their 44th Winter Conference held recently at Wesleyan University. 

We'll talk a lot about sustaining and growing the number of farms and farmers here in our state, and how various organizations are doing just that. So sit back and hear all about Reboot Eco, Solid Ground, CT Veteran Grown, The CT Farm Energy Program, The New Connecticut Farmer Alliance, Land For Good, the UConn Extension, the Connecticut Land Conservation Council, and of course the executive Director at CT NOFA will join us as well!