Charter Oak Donates $100,000 in December to Region's Food Pantries

 Charter Oak Federal Credit Union donated $100,000 in emergency food assistance to eastern Connecticut’s food pantries and food centers to help boost food supplies to those in need during the holiday season.

For the third year in a row 20 food pantries received $5,000 this past December for much-needed food supplies at food centers and food pantries serving New London and Windham counties.

“At Charter Oak, we believe that strong communities are built on acts of kindness and generosity. Supporting local food pantries during the holiday season not only provides nourishment to those in need but it also strengthens the fabric of our community. Giving back is a core value of our company and we are proud to contribute to the well-being of others, especially during this time of year.” said Brian A. Orenstein, Charter Oak’s President and Chief Executive Officer.           

The 20 eastern Connecticut organizations that received emergency food assistance from Charter Oak during 2024 included: Access Community Action Agency; Always Home in Mystic; Care & Share of East Lyme; Covenant Soup Kitchen in Willimantic; Friends of Assisi Food Pantry in Danielson; Interfaith Human Services of Putnam-Daily Bread; Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center in New London; Groton Social Services Food Lockers; Montville Food Bank (Montville Social Services); New London Area Food Pantry; New London Community Meal Center; New London Homeless Hospitality Center; Norwich Community Meal Program DBA Lee Memorial UMC; Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center; Project Pin, Inc. in Moosup; Rosalyn Allen Food Pantry in Norwich; Saint Mary's Church Food Pantry in Jewett City; Saint Vincent De Paul Place in Norwich; TEEG Community Market in North Grosvenordale; and Waterford Community Food Bank in Waterford.

The emergency food donations were funded through Charter Oak’s Community Giving Program, which annually awards sponsorships and grants to non-profits and charitable groups across eastern Connecticut. Charter Oak’s Community Giving Program also includes its Matching Gifts Program, which awarded over $540,000 in Charter Oak and member donations to charities and non-profits in 2024, as well as Charter Oak’s $100,000 annual scholarship program for high school and college students. During 2024, Charter Oak and its members community giving efforts totaled nearly $950,000 in New London and Windham counties and since Charter Oak expanded its community outreach efforts in 2009 it has committed more than $4.5 million in assistance to individuals, non-profits, and charitable organizations.

Charter Oak Federal Credit Union is like a bank, just better! We've been proudly serving eastern Connecticut since 1939 and we offer great checking, deposit, lending, insurance, and investment products. And because we’re a credit union, we’re owned by our members, not by shareholders. So we can offer lower rates on loans and higher rates on deposits. It’s easy to become a Charter Oak member: simply live, work, worship, learn, or volunteer in New London or Windham counties. So join today and see why Members Bank Better at Charter Oak!