Community members, students, faculty, and staff braved cool temperatures and overcast skies March 25 to run and walk raising nearly $1,200.00 for NVCC’s student food pantry.

Beginning at Founders Hall on NVCC’s Waterbury campus, the race began at 10 Sunday morning with a course that allowed participants to do 1.55 miles (2.5 K) or the loop twice for a 5k. Sixty-seven people participated in total and trophies for top female and male winners were given out in addition to medals for first, second, and third place by age division.

NVCC President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D. welcomed attendees with a Daniel Ladinsky translation of poem “Can Any Beauty Match This?” by Persian poet Hafiz. She remarked, “I am here to say thank you to so many who took the time to participate on this very cold and windy Sunday morning. It speaks to the level of care and sense of family at NVCC. Mil gracias, Professor Cocchiola-Meyer, for your leadership in support of our students at the Food Pantry. A beautiful new tradition was created this morning. Bendiciones.”

The pantry, which opened last month, is staffed by student workers and open various hours a day to help calculate peak periods in order to determine a more permanent schedule in the future. The initial service currently available is a “grab and go,” where students may grab a quick snack or meal, such as a granola bar, and a warm item such as individual-serving sizes of macaroni and cheese, ramen noodles, soups, or pasta. A grocery area of the Pantry will open soon and allow students in need to pick up 20 items per month.

The proceeds from Sunday’s race will go toward keeping the pantry stocked in the coming months. Individuals or organizations who want to donate, should contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Associate Dean of Development at NVCC. Watch WTNH coverage of the race here.