January 13, 2021 (Middletown, Conn.) — To help alleviate food insecurity at Middlesex Community College (MxCC), the Middlesex United Way donated $2,000 to the MxCC Foundation to support the Magic Food Bus, the college’s food pantry. The funds are a result of the Middletown Community Thanksgiving Project (MCTP) fundraising effort last fall.
“The Middletown Community Thanksgiving Project is pleased to support the Middlesex Community College Magic Food Bus with a $2,000 donation. The greater Middletown community generously supports our effort to feed about 1,000 families each Thanksgiving. MCTP has a history of annually donating unused monies back to the community to other organizations addressing the significant issue of food insecurity,” said Kevin Wilhelm, president and CEO of the Middlesex United Way. “We are aware of this issue facing many college students at this time and want to do our part to support them,”
According to Wilhelm, MCTP raised about $13,000 more than what was needed to purchase perishable items and other food items that they didn’t collect enough of for the approximate 1,000 baskets. Each year some companies choose to support the project financially instead of, or in addition to, collecting requested food items. This year they raised more than normal due to some companies not being able to collect because of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. Each year the project gives excess monies raised to local Middletown-based organizations that address the issue of food insecurity. Middlesex United Way is the fiduciary for the project.
“This gives us a nice sum of money to restock the shelves or provide a grab and go bag to get food out to those students in need,” said Kimberly Hogan, MxCC Dean of Administration.
The Middlesex United Way has supported the Magic Food Bus twice in 2019 and supported the college through the foundation consistently for at least 10 years.
For more information about the Middlesex Community College Magic Food Bus, visit https://mxcc.edu/magic-food-bus/.
Since 1966, Middlesex Community College has provided high-quality, affordable, and accessible education to a diverse population, enhancing the strengths of individuals through degree, certificate, and lifelong learning programs that lead to university transfer, employment, and an enriched awareness of our shared responsibilities as global citizens. A part of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system, MxCC offers more than 70 degree or certificate programs at the 35-acre campus in Middletown, MxCC@Platt in Meriden, and online.
