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For the eighth year, more than 150 Eastern students will take part in sustainable beautification projects in the community alongside neighborhood volunteers. The annual Town Pride, Town Wide program grows every year and is a great collaboration with community partners, local businesses, Eastern students, faculty and staff.

The Food Justice Committee (FJC) addresses issues of food insecurity, poverty and education in the Willimantic community. Students in the committee have worked to establish a mobile food pantry through the Connecticut Food Bank in Willimantic. The pantry will provide 5,000 lbs. of fresh and healthy food that residents of Willimantic can pick up free of charge. The committee also seeks to raise awareness on campus through activities such as food audits of Hurley Hall and raising awareness about food carbon footprints. The committee is a connecting hub for food-related activities occurring on campus through clubs and classes and off campus.

Eastern faculty members teach courses every year that incorporate service into the curriculum. Students in a wide variety of disciplines gain practical experience and provide valuable services to the local community.  Service learning opportunities at Eastern have included:

• Database development for the Covenant Soup Kitchen
• Mentoring and stress management programs at local schools and residential mental health hospital
• Storefront and billboard design for Willimantic small businesses and community initiatives
• Production of public service announcements for broadcast on local television stations
• Willimantic community promotional film production
• Business plan design for Willimantic small businesses
• Building renovation for local non-profit organization

For more information on volunteer opportunities visit www.easternct.edu/cce

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