In its latest charitable collaboration with Willimantic’s Covenant Soup Kitchen, Eastern Connecticut State University’s Center for Community Engagement (CCE) donated $3,000 to the soup kitchen on June 27.

The CCE held a series of food drives this past year to raise the money to make the donation. “Over the past academic year, from October 2023 to May 2024, we raised $3,000,” said Lana O’Connor, director of the CCE.

Lexie Mastroianni, community engagement coordinator at the CCE, coordinated the food drives with the help of CCE student leader Amilya Williams, who also volunteered at Covenant’s food pantry in spring 2024.

“We do probably six to eight (drives) a semester for about four hours at a time per weekend,” said Mastroianni. The drives were held at the Willimantic Food Co-Op.

The donation came at an opportune time, as summers can be difficult at Covenant. “This is a time of year when we’re really struggling for food, funds and volunteers,” said Kimberly Clark, executive director at Covenant.

“Spring and summer are particularly challenging here because we are very seasonal in terms of donations,” said Clark. “We have a spike in November and December and then it drops back flat.

“We’re writing very large checks for food purchases just to keep up with the demand of the pantry and our served meals program, so $3,000 goes a long way.”

The drives were accomplished with the help of volunteers, whom Williams recruited for each drive. After figuring out transportation, Williams would inform the volunteers of the types of donations to ask for. “It’s usually monetary donations, canned goods or nonperishable items,” she said.

“I also like to stress hygiene items,” said Williams, which Clark added were a “tremendous need, especially this time of year.”

Customers at the co-op, who were the target donors, were often readily helpful. “It’s nice to see that people are willing to take the time, and they don’t need too much information,” said Williams.

“I thought I would have to give a whole spiel and practically beg, but it’s just showing them the flyer and it’s just a simple ‘good morning,’ and they’re like, ‘yep, I’m on it.’ And it’s just nice to see that sense of community.”