HARTFORD, CT (November 18th, 2022) – Through a long standing partnership with UConn Athletics, Prolific 1 will collaborate with the Women’s Basketball Team on a food drive to support those in need this holiday season. As part of the effort, fans attending the game on Sunday, November 20th will be encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to donate.

As the presenting sponsor of this game, Prolific 1’s CEO, Mike Garvie, will join representatives from UConn and each of the local food banks to present the donation on center court.

“After a successful toy drive in 2021, Prolific 1 is excited to leverage our partnership with UConn Athletics to give back to the local community in a different capacity,” says Mike Garvie, CEO of Prolific1. “This is a challenging time of year for many people, and we’re eager to support our community and these deserving organizations in any way we can.”

The local organizations receiving the donations include: Thames Valley Council for Community Action, Inc, United Way of Connecticut and Access Community Action Agency.

“We know that nearly 40% of Connecticut residents live paycheck-to-paycheck at best, and at worst, are falling behind. This can mean stark choices between paying the rent and buying the nutritious food a family knows their kids need, shares Lisa Tepper Bates, President & CEO, United Way of Connecticut. “Feeding America tells us that 490,000 Connecticut residents struggle with hunger – more than 131,000 children in our state don’t get enough to eat. Every hour of every day, people in Connecticut turn to United Way of Connecticut/211 for help finding the resources they need – including food supports. We are proud to work together with community partners, like TVCCA and Access Agency, and with state agencies to help Connecticut residents access what they need for themselves and their families, and to build a path to thrive. United Way of Connecticut thanks everyone for combating food insecurity in our state. We wish you all a very meaningful Thanksgiving.”

“United Way is proud to bring together the right people and resources to make a tangible difference for local children and families. Today’s food drive is a powerful representation of what it looks like to LIVE UNITED,” says Eric Harrison, President and CEO, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut. “We especially want to thank those who donated non-perishable items. Because of them, more people in Eastern Connecticut will be able to put food on the table throughout the holiday season.”

“This is a wonderful opportunity for the UConn community to partner with local food pantries located in the heart of Huskyland. Access’ Willimantic site based pantry is 15 minutes down the road from Storrs and our mobile program delivers to food insecure communities that are also cheering on our Lady Huskies, a real win-win!” says Kathleen Krider, Senior Director of Community Engagement and Resource Management at Access.

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About TVCCA (Thames Valley Council for Community Action, Inc.)

The mission of Thames Valley Council for Community Action, Inc. (TVCCA) is to provide services and partner with other organizations to address the social determinants of health – housing, food security,

employment, education, and basic needs – of low-income and vulnerable households of Eastern Connecticut, with a focus on building the community’s self-sufficiency and resiliency.

TVCCA traces its roots to the historic anti-poverty initiatives of the 1960s. President Lyndon B. Johnson launched the War on Poverty with the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, which defined the scope of the Community Action Program, and the structure and functions of Community Action Agencies, the grass-roots organizations that would oversee and administer the Program nationwide. More than a half-century later, Community Action Agencies throughout the county continue to help people in low-income and disadvantaged communities access the services they need at a local level, while fostering greater levels of self-reliance and economic autonomy among their clientele.

Since its incorporation on March 22, 1965 as New London County’s Community Action Agency, TVCCA has remained true to this vision, and steadfast in its commitment to address social and economic disparities in our area, and mitigate both the causes and consequences of poverty. Throughout the region, TVCCA is recognized as a community leader and a trusted partner in advocating for and meeting the needs of the area’s most vulnerable residents.

About United Way of Connecticut

United Way of Connecticut serves by 1) connecting people to information, education, and services; 2) supporting early childhood development and education; 3) responding to emergencies, whether they are personal/family crises or community-wide disasters; and 4) promoting strong communities in collaboration with many government and nonprofit partners. These four objectives are carried out by means of our diverse array of services which creates cross-cutting connections that help to integrate the work of multiple government and nonprofit agencies.

United Way of Connecticut’s core services include the Connecticut 211 contact center and point of entry for Mobile Crisis Intervention Services and Connecticut’s Coordinated Shelter Access Networks; 211 Child Care Resource and Referral Contact Center; 211 Child Development; and administering the State of Connecticut’s childcare subsidy program, Care 4 Kids. United Way of Connecticut also works with local United Way leaders to advance the common good by creating opportunities for all, with a particular focus on education, income/financial security, health and basic needs. For more information, visit ctunitedway.org.

About United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut   

United Way brings people and resources together to address immediate needs and find long-term solutions to challenging problems. United Way does this by investing in programs and services; leading community change initiatives; and, mobilizing resources and volunteers to ensure that children succeed in school; people get jobs and are financially secure; people are healthy; and, basic needs are met during tough times. For more information, visit unitedwayinc.org.    

About Access Food Pantries

Site-Based and Mobile is available to individuals and families in Windham and Tolland Counties who find themselves in an emergency situation where they run a risk of being without food. A crisis can happen to anyone at any time which can force them to have to choose between food and other necessities. A three-day food supplement is issued to those families/individuals experiencing a food crisis immediately and

weekly or monthly appointments can be set up. An individual or family can meet with a Case Manager for an assessment and determine what can be done to eliminate the barriers that created the need for an emergency food supplement. They can also see what other services they qualify for. Access goal is to help our customers to get past the short-term crisis that they are experiencing and have food security for their household. Visit https://accessagency.org/ to learn more