Since arriving on campus, President Michael Hogan has encouraged the University community to give back by supporting local charities through the Connecticut State Employees’ Charitable Campaign.
“Soon it will be Thanksgiving, a day when those of us among the ‘haves’ may relish or complain about the hours spent cooking to provide the holiday feast,” says Hogan. “But there are many in our own neighborhoods who are dependent on the generosity of others for even the simplest meal.”
The 2009 Connecticut State Employees’ Charitable Campaign began in October. Since then, about 400 people who work at UConn’s main campus in Storrs have pledged more than $112,000 – 100 employees short of the participation goal. If employees contributed just $1 per pay period, the Storrs community would be able to provide crucial assistance to UConn neighbors in need of help.
The University’s assistance is not just financial. Community Outreach students currently volunteer at four organizations that are among the Top 12 agencies that Storrs faculty and staff supported in the 2008 Employees’ Campaign for Charitable Giving. The four are: Food Share; Windham Area Interfaith Ministry; Covenant Soup Kitchen; and the Windham Habitat for Humanity.
“I think it’s great that students work directly with a third of the top 12 agencies that employees support. It shows a true connection between where faculty and staff give money and the places where students donate time,” says Stefanie Landsman, Storrs coordinator for the ’09 Employees’ Campaign. “It reinforces that UConn gives back to our local community.”
Hogan demonstrated his support for the local community this month by joining students in collecting food from UConn Dining Services and then delivering and serving it at Willimantic’s Covenant Soup Kitchen. The local soup kitchen received the sixth highest number of donations from Storrs employees and appears to be among the campus’s favorite local charities.
“Covenant Soup Kitchen has a strong network of supporters and advocates, as well as name recognition,” says Matthew Farley, director of UConn’s Office of Community Outreach. “The staff there are good to work with; they collaborate well and often become the recipient of multiple efforts from UConn.”
November fundraisers to benefit this area social service agency included a concert performance by Off Yer Rockers, UConn’s faculty rock band, at the UConn Co-op. Flyers encouraged listeners to bring some cash to drop in the donation box. The Co-op also made a portion of the proceeds from the book launch for Wally Lamb’s newest novel, Wishin’ and Hopin’: A Christmas Story, a fundraiser for the soup kitchen. The two on-campus events raised more than $1,000 for the local charity.
To join other members of the UConn community in donating to this year’s Campaign, visit the Connecticut State Employees’ Charitable Campaign website.
