The Windham Region No Freeze Project is the beneficiary of efforts by three student organizations at Eastern Connecticut State University, as the Cheerleading Team, Habitat for Humanity and Psychology Club are raising funds and collecting supplies in support of the local homeless community. 

Concluding on April 2, the Cheerleading Team’s efforts are focused on collecting toiletries and personal items, such as toilet paper, masks, deodorant, razors and shaving cream, as well as clothing, office supplies and gift cards to grocery stores and restaurants.

“Windham No Freeze expressed a great need for cleaning supplies such as rubber gloves, bleach, disinfectant, cleaning wipes, laundry detergent and 55-gallon garbage bags,” said Madison Lemire, who double majors in sociology and criminology and serves as the Cheerleading Team’s community service coordinator.

“We have had a great experience coordinating this event and love finding ways to give back to our local community, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic when we could all use a little more care and help.”

Donations can be dropped off at the vendor table in the Student Center on March 26 from 4–6 p.m., March 30 from noon–5 p.m. and April 2 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. 

Also benefiting Windham No Freeze, Eastern’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity and the Psychology Club teamed up for an online fundraiser that concluded on March 22. The clubs used Eastern’s ticket purchasing interface to purchase “tickets,” which acted as donations that were transferred to the no-freeze shelter.

The clubs also collected packaged items in the Science Building on March 19. The results of the fundraiser are still pending, but the clubs reported a successful supply drive that collected toiletries as well as food items.

Speaking to the double-club partnership, Habitat for Humanity member Judith Arroyo said, “It’s a beautiful merge if I say so myself. The purpose of Habitat for Humanity is to help build homes in our community and do what we call Hire-a-Habitater to help people with jobs around their home or community…

“And being a psychology major isn’t just about learning human behavior and mental processes; it also teaches you to volunteer your time to help those who are in need, especially during a pandemic. It has been hard for all of us but if we come together we can really find ways to help others and create a better community for all.”