In the News | Three Rivers Veterans Organization donates 80 Thanksgiving Dinners to Norwich Vet Center

When Marie Parry became the president of the Three Rivers Community College Veterans Organization, she took the commitment seriously. When it came time to plan for the annual Thanksgiving drive, she really wanted to do more. Historically, the organization has donated between 20 and 50 turkeys to the Norwich Vet Center. Marie wanted to change that to donations of whole meals, and she wanted to meet the needs of the center, which was over 75 dinners. To meet a need that big, Parry needed to involve all of the Three River’s community.

With the help and blessing of Alycia Ziegler, Director of Student Programing, Parry invited all of the student clubs to be responsible for the donation a food item for the baskets. Fourteen student organizations pulled together to donate all the necessary items: Student Programs Office, Student Government Association, Business Club, SIGMA, Video Game Club, Anime Club, Campus Activity Board, SAGE, Student Nursing Association, Three Rivers United Environmentalists, Karaoke Club, American Institute of Architecture Students, and the Three Rivers Aquatic Activists. Two outside organizations from the community also donated food and resources, the Stitch Chicks of the North Franklin Quilt Shop and the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association – Nathan Hale Chapter.

Food was collected for three weeks, and so much was gathered that, after the 80 baskets were pulled together for the Veteran Center, there was enough left over to donate to the Three Rivers food pantry and other local Thanksgiving drives. Transporting the baskets to the Norwich Veteran’s Center took a U-Haul truck and a pick-up filled with turkeys. Parry, a veteran who is studying environmental engineering and environmental health and safety, says, “right now, I am tired, but next year I want to do a hundred baskets.”

In the News

News 8 WTNH – Three Rivers Community College helping Veterans this Thanksgiving

The Day – Three Rivers vets, other student clubs donate 80 Thanksgiving dinners to the Norwich Vet Center.

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The Full Plate Food Pantry distributes 30 Thanksgiving Dinners

The Full Plate Food Pantry at Three Rivers Community College is busy! Since gaining a new permanent location in 2017, the use of the pantry has greatly increased and preparations for Thanksgiving are well underway.  The pantry will supply 30 Thanksgiving dinners to food-insecure students of the Three Rivers community this year.

From its first year, the Full Plate has held Thanksgiving food drives. Beginning in 2012 and continuing through 2018, the Full Plate has provided over 30 complete Thanksgiving dinners to anyone in the Three Rivers community who was in need. Long-time Chair of the Food Pantry Task Force, Professor Janet Hagen says, “We are so thankful that we have such a supportive community of faculty and staff that make the Thanksgiving drive possible. The students who receive Thanksgiving Dinners are so grateful.”

In addition to the Thanksgiving dinners, The Full Plate is open during the fall and spring semester, providing food to those who need it. Monetary and food donations by faculty, staff, and student organizations keep the pantry’s shelves stocked. The food pantry is a valued and necessary, as recent statistics show that two-thirds of community college students suffer from food insecurity.

Hagen oversees The Full Plate along with the Food Pantry Task Force, which is made up of three faculty members and two staff members. For more information on the food pantry, please contact Janet Hagen at 860-215-9433.

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