Watch: 13th Annual Poverty Awareness Marathon alleviates food insecurity

Spirits were high as a large group of Eastern Connecticut State University students, led by Business Administration Professor Charlie Chatterton, gathered for Eastern's 13th Annual Poverty Awareness Marathon. 

Starting at 7 a.m. on Oct. 2, several Eastern sports teams, including the women’s lacrosse and men’s basketball, took the first of 22 laps around campus, each lap 1.2 miles. More than 120 additional participants joined them to help complete a lap over the course of the day, covering more than 200 miles in the name of poverty awareness. 

“This is a community event,” said Charlie Chatterton. “It’s an opportunity for the campus community to give back.” 

Many Eastern community members brought shelf-stable food items to donate to Shawn’s Cupboard, a student-led pantry, and Covenant Soup Kitchen in downtown Willimantic. In total, the event collected over 170 non-perishable items and raised $1,100.