HCC Union Helps Address Holiday Community Hunger

Partners with Fairfield Food Bank Reflects 4Cs “Culture of Commitment”

BRIDGEPORT – Members of Housatonic Community College’s faculty and staff union have teamed up with a local food pantry to help fight holiday hunger in the community.

As part of its Dec. 15 holiday luncheon, the Congress of Connecticut Community Colleges (4Cs) collected more than 100 cans of fruit to donate to Operation Hope, a Fairfield-based social service agency that runs a large food pantry, community kitchen and homeless shelter. The donations were collected at the luncheon in lieu of an admission fee.

“For years, HCC has been donating goods to organizations supporting needy families in the Bridgeport area,” said Lynne Langella of Branford, HCC 4Cs chapter co-chair and Coordinator of Disability Support Services. “Our partnership with Operation Hope is a continuation of these efforts: we worked with them before and were more than happy with the results.”

At the HCC chapter’s end-of-the-year luncheon in the Spring, she noted, 4Cs members collected and donated more than 100 jars of jelly and fruit to Operation Hope. “During food drives with children in mind, people always think of peanut butter,” Langella said. “but most people forget the jelly. Operation Hope asked us for jelly.”

The partnership with Operation Hope came together quickly. In April, Langella met with Operation Hope Executive Director and Stratford resident Carla Miklos, whose parents taught at HCC, and the agreement was struck.

The 4Cs had its end-of-year luncheon coming up the following month, so Langella and fellow 4Cs campus officers Sandra Barnes of Bridgeport and Bill Myerson of New Haven put out the word to union members that jars of fruit and jelly were needed. The end result:100 jars of jelly and fruit were donated.

One person who is impressed with the HCC members’ response to the food drive is 4Cs President Bryan Bonina of Bristol. “Hats off to 4Cs members at Housatonic for going out of their way to help the needy in the community,” he said. “Their generosity is an example of our members’ commitment to the students and the communities they serve.”

“Over the years,” Bonina noted, “the Housatonic chapter has sponsored food drives, coat drives, toy drives – you name it – to support organizations that help the underprivileged in the community. Historically, our members at Housatonic have looked for more ways and more effective ways to give back. The arrangement with Operation Hope was an example of this”

Langella also is pleased by the results of the partnership. “This effort by our members helped meet a pressing need in the community,” Langella said. “It shows the public what we’re all about … and helps state workers earn the good reputation they deserve.”

The Congress of Connecticut Community Colleges represents some 4,000 faculty and professional staff at the state’s 12 community colleges. Members are known for their Culture of Commitment to student and the community they serve.