Charter Oak Donates $100,000 to Region’s Food Pantries

Published On: November 13th, 2025Categories: News & Events, Press Release

Credit Union’s Emergency Grants Strengthened Food Inventories During the Holiday Season

For Immediate Release
Contact: Ronald Wertz
VP-Director of Marketing
860.446.3254

Waterford, CT – November 12th, 2025 – Charter Oak Federal Credit Union is donating $100,000 in emergency food assistance to eastern Connecticut’s food pantries and food centers to help boost food supplies to those in need during the holiday season.

For the fourth year in a row, 20 food pantries will receive $5,000 this November for much-needed food supplies at food centers and food pantries serving New London and Windham counties. Due to the impacts that recent events are having on our communities, the initiative was moved up from the end of the year to now as we approach the winter months.

“The holidays are a time for coming together, and that sense of community feels especially meaningful this time of year. With many families continuing to feel the impact of recent challenges across the country, local food pantries are a lifeline for our neighbors in need. At Charter Oak, we are proud to stand beside them and do our part to ensure every family in our community can share in the spirit of the season and have a sense of security.” said Brian A. Orenstein, Charter Oak’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

The 20 eastern Connecticut organizations that received emergency food assistance from Charter Oak in 2025 include: Access Community Action Agency; Always Home in Mystic; Care & Share of East Lyme; Covenant Soup Kitchen in Willimantic; Friends of Assisi Food Pantry in Danielson; Interfaith Human Services of Putnam-Daily Bread; Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center in New London; Groton Social Services Food Lockers; Montville Food Bank (Montville Social Services); New London Area Food Pantry; New London Community Meal Center; New London Homeless Hospitality Center; Norwich Community Meal Program DBA Lee Memorial UMC; Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center; Project Pin, Inc. in Moosup; Rosalyn Allen Food Pantry in Norwich; Saint Mary’s Church Food Pantry in Jewett City; Saint Vincent De Paul Place in Norwich; TEEG Community Market in North Grosvenordale; and Waterford Community Food Bank in Waterford.

The emergency food donations were funded through Charter Oak’s Community Giving Program, which annually awards sponsorships and grants to non-profits and charitable groups across eastern Connecticut. Charter Oak’s Community Giving Program also includes its Matching Gifts Program, which is expected to reach over $560,000 in Charter Oak and member donations to charities and non-profits in 2025, as well as Charter Oak’s $100,000 annual scholarship program for high school and college students. Since Charter Oak expanded its community outreach efforts in 2009 it has committed more than $4.5 million in assistance to individuals, non-profits, and charitable organizations.

Charter Oak Federal Credit Union is like a bank, just better! We’ve been proudly serving eastern Connecticut since 1939 and we offer great checking, deposit, lending, insurance, and investment products. And because we’re a credit union, we’re owned by our members, not by shareholders. So we can offer lower rates on loans and higher rates on deposits. It’s easy to become a Charter Oak member: simply live, work, worship, learn, or volunteer in New London or Windham counties. So join today and see why Members Bank Better at Charter Oak!