Responding to the needs of the community is built into the mission of community colleges, and many schools have service programs that allow students to help improve the quality of life in their communities. Housatonic Community College (HCC) has gone one further by creating ‘Housatonic Helps,’ a brand-new service initiative that provides opportunities for staff, faculty and students to lend a hand to the communities it serves.
On Monday, the very first ‘Housatonic Helps’ initiative took place as members of the Housatonic Community College team participated in a community food distribution event in Bridgeport led by Alliance For Community Empowerment. Volunteers loaded 700 boxes of perishable and non-perishable food into waiting cars. Each box provided groceries for 3-4 days for a family of four.
“It is incredible to see the goodwill of Housatonic felt by those in the community that are in need, and I’m excited about the prospects of future activities in which we can show that Housatonic cares about the community and is willing to put in the sweat equity to make a difference,” said Dwayne Smith, Ph.D., HCC Chief Executive Officer.
Future Housatonic Helps events will continue to offer support to disadvantaged residents, with the next event planned for October 17th when a Housatonic Day will be held at Wade's Dairy. Food will be donated by Farmers to Families and Housatonic volunteers will again help distribute boxes of food to needy families.
HCC is a student-centered institution that focuses on student success and serves an eleven-town area in southwestern Connecticut including Ansonia, Bridgeport, Derby, Easton, Fairfield, Milford, Monroe, Seymour, Shelton, Stratford and Trumbull. For organizations looking to partner with the Housatonic Helps initiative, please contact Associate Dean of Campus Operations Mario Pierce at 203.332.5015 or via email at .
Serving southern Connecticut for over 50 years, Housatonic Community College offers a student-centered, high quality and accessible education through more than 75 majors and degree programs to prepare students for transfer to four-year institutions. The college also offers occupational certificate programs, and the non-credit division partners with local businesses and industries to offer workforce training and customized professional development. HCC is distinguished as an Achieving the Dream Leader Institution and is ranked by the Aspen Institute among the nation’s top 150 community colleges.
Photos by Laura Roberts
China Byrd and Dean Robin Avant harvested pumpkins from the garden for children attending the Early Childhood Lab School. The pumpkins were grown from seedlings that began at China's home and were transplanted into the garden beds. Also harvested in October
were corn, peas and squash.
Another local upcoming event is an American Red Cross blood drive, taking place at Burroughs Community Center in Bridgeport on Monday, November 23rd from 11am - 4pm. Click on the link below to make an appointment.
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