HLRCC proudly joined the United Way of Greater Waterbury for the annual Stock the Pantry event, held this year on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, as part of the 20th Annual United Way Day of Action.
Melissa Seres (left) from the Leever Center coordinated the collection, resulting in 71.1 pounds of food donated to local pantries.
For two decades, the Day of Action has been a way to raise awareness and support basic needs in our community. This year, volunteers stepped up to help address the staggering increase in demand at local soup kitchens and food pantries, a challenge made worse by rising inflation. Donations help ensure that children from lower-income households don’t experience the “summer slide,” when students lose some of their academic progress without reliable access to nutritious meals.
According to Feeding America’s 2025 Map the Meal Gap Report, food insecurity continues to rise in Connecticut, with one in seven residents (516,640 people, up 10.36% over 2024) facing insecurity. HLRCC is proud to help provide nutritious meals to those in need in our community.