The Food Security Task Force is a coalition of food pantries and other non-profit providers and organizations working to collectively address lack of assured access to healthy foods in the Lower Naugatuck Valley and its impact on individual, family, and community well-being. Membership provides collaborative opportunities to develop a shared strategic agenda to strengthen food security, and initiate sustainable change to provide improved access to nutritious foods for food insecure individuals and families in the Valley region. This Task Force was created in 2014 as an outcome of the Valley Hunger Study: A Report on Issues of Hunger and Access to Food in Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton.

The PRC joined the Food Security Task Force in late 2018 and helped conduct a formal evaluation of the 5 participating food pantries in the spring of 2019.   Findings from these assessments were used to identify assets and opportunities for improvement, and will be used to inform the next phase of work for the Food Security Task Force – implementing best and promising practices to address food insecurity and health promotion. The PRC also chaired the Nutrition Committee and helped develop formal Nutrition Guidelines that were used for procurement, education, and other activities undertaken by the task force.