Students, Families Help Raise 20,000 Pounds of Food for Day of Caring

As part of Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s “Day of Caring & Compassion,” Nov. 6, Wesleyan students and their families helped collect 20,000 pounds of food.

“The goal of the statewide food drive was to replenish the state’s food banks and food pantries for the holidays, especially as the number of people seeking food-assistance has increased by over 30 percent from last year,” Gov. Rell said in a Nov. 9 Middletown Press article. “I am proud to say that thousands of Connecticut residents and visitors rose to the challenge and showed how much they care about their friends, family and neighbors struggling with keeping enough food on their tables.”

Statewide, more than 25 tons of food was collected for the cause.

Connecticut Food Bank Executive Director Nancy L. Carrington called the success of the food drive a testament to the generosity of Connecticut’s residents.

“The success of this food drive has re-energized us as we approach the holiday season. The overwhelming generosity that was shown on Saturday demonstrates Connecticut’s long and proud tradition of neighbors helping neighbors,” Carrington said to the Press. “We want to especially thank Governor Rell for lending her support and calling attention to the problem of hunger in Connecticut and raising the public awareness at a critical time. The increased demand has put a great strain on our network of food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters, and we cannot feed people in need without the support of the public.”