To alleviate hunger locally, C&S is supporting:
Food Share in Bloomfield with on-going donations of food for neighbors in need. Since 2002 we estimate this represents nearly 900,000 meals.
C&S has also supported Food Share with several grants in support of their Produce Recovery Program that collects fresh fruits and vegetables from a regional farmers’ market, and repackages it for local low-income families. Additionally the company has provided seed funding to help launch an ambitious 5-year work plan that will focus on the causes of hunger and propose strategies to address the problem effectively.
C&S and our employees are proud to strengthen families in the places we call home in ways that have impact:
C&S employees in Windsor Locks and Suffield donated 600 pounds of kid-friendly food to Food Share, and learned about childhood hunger, as a part of Feeding America’s national hunger action month in 2009. Each pound of food donated by employees received a matching donation to Feeding America’s innovative Back Pack program, supplying food to children who are at-risk of hunger on days when school cafeterias are closed. C&S employees in Windsor Locks have held an annual food drive for kids since 2003 and in Suffield since 2006.
Our commitment to end childhood hunger is matched by an equal passion to increase educational opportunities for all children:
In partnership with First Book, C&S has donated 30,000 books to children, schools and libraries in an around Westfield. With this organization we are nurturing a love of reading and learning for children without access to books.
Recent milestones and actions in and around Windsor Locks and Suffield that focus on community and the greater good:
In 2009, pledges from C&S employees in Windsor Locks and Suffield to the United Way plus the corporate match totaled over $32,000 mostly to the United Way of Central and Northeast Connecticut. C&S is honored to be one of 125 United Way National Corporate Leaders.
Local investment in nonprofit groups through the C&S mini-grant program includes:
- Bradley Family Day, Windsor Locks, CT
- End Hunger Connecticut, Hartford, CT
- Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity, Hartford, CT
Our Windsor Locks and Suffield locations are taking steps to improve upon environmental sustainability and to integrate sustainable practices:
- Operations - comprehensive audits of our all distribution centers in 2009 to track energy usage, diagnose problems, and inform improvements.
- Transportation - investment in technology to reduce the number of miles traveled by our trucks, lowering fuel use and carbon emissions.
- Recycling - initiatives include paper, cardboard, wood pallets, plastic wrap, and electronics.
C&S employees are encouraged to roll up their sleeves and bring positive change to their communities. The company organizes and inspires them through:
- Make A Difference Day (a national, annual day of service) - In 2009, C&S employees from Windsor Locks and Suffield volunteered at the Enfield Food Shelf where they helped to clean, organize and stock shelves.
- Dollars for Doers - Through this program, nonprofit organizations benefit twice – once from each C&S employees’ contribution of time and again from a C&S contribution of $1 per hour volunteered.
- Team Up & Make Strides - This program supports teams of four C&S employees who team up and participate in walk-a-thons, runs, bike-a-thons and other similar events to raise awareness and funds for local charities.
