Chartwells Dining Services, Eastern's on-campus food service provider, is helping to alleviate food insecurity among students with a recent donation of $739 to “Shawn’s Cupboard,” the University's on-campus food pantry. In operation since 2017, Shawn’s Cupboard relies heavily on food and money donations. With this donation and more the pantry continues to provide food-insecure students with groceries and a reliable food source during the academic year.

The donation came from Chartwells employees who participated in the company's “Dress Down Friday” program. On Fridays, Chartwells employees were permitted to "dress down" from their full uniforms if they donated $1. “A committee was formed to decide on what to do with the money, and Shawn’s Cupboard was chosen as the recipient,” said Joe Salvaggio, the campus director for Chartwells Dining Services. “This program started back in the fall semester of 2019 and has been going on throughout the pandemic as one way of having some fun during a very difficult time.”

The pantry is located in the Knight House, on Windham Street Extension. It is led by Alondra Martinez ’22, whose duties and responsibilities include managing student volunteers, keeping track of inventory, and maintaining clear and consistent communication with the pantry’s committee. “A size of this donation means so much because it helps us to purchase more items that we may be running out of,” said Martinez. “It’s not always certain we’ll get donations so getting generous donations such as this keeps us running and secures the replenishment of food items to provide to students in the future.”

Established by Shawn Dousis ’19, the pantry is funded by the Foundation for Campus Ministry and has a mission to feed students in need. The pantry’s mission statement notes that “students who have enough to eat every day are more likely to remain in school and to perform at their best.” Run by student volunteers, the pantry has supplies ranging from non-perishable items to frozen foods, fresh produce and much more.

The pantry buys items in bulk that college students like such as pasta, rice, canned goods, snacks and other meals students can quickly prepare. “Shawn’s Cupboard appreciates every form of help we can get, and the volunteers do lots of that work," said Martinez. "We cannot express enough the gratitude we hold toward everyone’s cooperation on campus and are thrilled to know that it is consistently kept in consideration. These acts of service are a small reminder that the students at Eastern should and always will be cared for.”

Shawn's Cupboard is open Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m, no appointment needed. For more information, contact the Campus Ministry’s administrative assistant Nancy Brennan at brennann@easternct.edu or (860) 423-0856 or Professor Patrick Vitale at vitalep@easternct.edu .