Food Drive “Central’s Competition for a Cause”
By Robin Vinci at November 3, 2023 | 9:00 am | Print
A Food Drive like no other ever done in the City starts this week.
Central Connecticut State University Student Simms Sonet came up with the idea for the City after seeing it done between Auburn University and Alabama State University as a competition, fueled by their football rivalry, to raise non perishable food items for the Alabama food banks.
“I personally attended a conference at Texas A&M University where Auburn presented this idea,” said Sonet. “I thought it could be applied to Connecticut as well. So, since last February I have been looking into how to do this. This was something that could really benefit citizens of Connecticut.”
In order to get it done, he realized he needed the help from a few people. So he contacted Celeste Roche, the SGA Community Liaison, who pointed him in the direction of Community Central.
“I decided, after coming down from some very unrealistic delusions of grandeur, that having the clubs here at CCSU compete for the food donations would be a feasible and plausible way of doing this,” said Sonet.
Sonet met Hannah Hurwitz and Pauline Galezowski, members of the department, along with Gwen Valencia, YMCA Community coordinator.
“It pretty much exploded into this wonderful project between CCSU and the New Britain community,” said Sonet. “So now, not only clubs are participating, but CCSU Administrative Departments, Academic Departments, Clubs, the New Britain Police Department, New Britain Fire Department, TD Bank, the Mayor’s office, the YMCA, and so many more are participating as well. And it keeps getting better and bigger!”
The 1st Annual Central’s Competition For A Cause in which members of the city and campus community will compete and come together to raise food donations for the local food pantries in New Britain started Nov. 1 and will last until Nov. 14.
There will then be a closing ceremony at CCSU on Friday, Nov. 16 from 6:30-8 p.m., for representatives from every participating organization.
“It started out as CCSU internally competing to raise all the food and now it is town wide,” said Valencia. “It includes a CCSU section, Public Safety (such as police, fire and City Hall employee), Schools, Community Organizations (churches and YMCA) and Businesses.”
A weigh station is available and they will store everything at the Anvil Place Building. The police substation on Oak St. will also be a place where food can continually be collected.
“Some food pantries are just not doing well,” said Valencia.
That is why this project has become so big.
“We really want to make this in a big deal and show the public that there are City residents and organizations that are all banning together to help our New Britain families,” said Briggette Brown, City Community Organizer. “People, who may not have a New Britain team that they are a part of, but who still want to donate, can drop the food off to the City of New Britain during our working hours 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.”
Brown is located on the second floor of City Hall in the Mayor’s Office.
Get more information by calling Brown at 860-826-3303.
