MECC Food Drive delivers over 2,000 items to Community Resource Center

Jeff Waters with the donation. Photo courtesy of the Community Resource Center.

submitted by Carol Wotring, executive director, Manchester Community Resource Center

The Manchester Community Resource Center received a substantial donation to the food pantry from the Manchester Early Childhood Center, organized by Connie Waters.

The food drive collected more than 2,000 items totaling 894 pounds—739 pounds of food and 155 pounds of non-food essentials. Connie and her husband, Jeff Waters, delivered the donations in a van filled with contributions from MECC families and staff.

Jeff noted that the MECC children helped load the van, making the effort a true community project involving even the center’s youngest members.

The donation will support multiple CRC programs. Food pantry shelves will be restocked with needed items, and the Weekend Kids Meals program—which provides nutritious food to local students over the weekends—will benefit from the contribution.

The variety of items collected reflects the MECC families’ and staff’s understanding of community needs, with both food staples and non-food essentials that help families maintain stability.

The early childhood center’s involvement also provides an opportunity for young children to learn about helping their neighbors and participating in community support efforts.

The CRC thanks Connie Waters for organizing the drive, Jeff Waters for delivering the items, the MECC staff who supported the effort, and all the MECC families who contributed. The donation will ensure that more Manchester residents have access to the food and resources they need.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and a founder of the Manchester Mirror.