Eastern's Poverty Awareness Marathon Raises $1,400 for Local Food Assistance
Will Trzaski | News Editor
The annual campus event collected more than 170 nonperishable food item while bringing students and university community members together to address food insecurity.
Eastern Connecticut State University's 13th Annual Poverty Awareness Marathon raised $1,400 and collected more than 170 nonperishable food items for local food assistance organizations, continuing a campus tradition focused on raising awareness of poverty.
Held Oct. 2, the event brought students and other members of the university community together to run and walk around campus. Business Administration Professor Charlie Chatterton organized the marathon, which supports Shawn's Cupboard, Eastern's student-led food pantry, and Covenant Soup Kitchen in downtown Willimantic.
The event began at 7 a.m., when members of Eastern's women's lacrosse and men's basketball teams took the first 22 laps around campus. Each lap measured 1.2 miles. More than 120 additional participants joined throughout the day, contributing to a collective total of more than 200 miles covered.
"This is a community event," Chatterton said in Eastern's published recap. "It's an opportunity for the campus community to give back."
In addition to participating in the marathon, members of the Eastern community donated shelf-stable food items to the two organizations. The donations provided support for both student experiencing food insecurity and people in the surrounding Willimantic community.
Shawn's Cupboard is a student-led food pantry located on Eastern's campus. Named after alumna Shawn Dousis '19, the pantry is open to all Eastern students and provides supplemental food assistance to those who may have difficulty obtaining enough food during the academic year.
The pantry relies primarily on community donations and partnerships with organizations such as Stop & Shop and Connecticut Foodshare to maintain its resources. Its presence on campus offers students a place to access food assistance while continuing their education.
The marathon also supports Covenant Soup Kitchen, located in downtown Willimantic. By directing donations to both a campus pantry and a local food assistance organization, the event extends its support beyond Eastern to the surrounding community.
The annual marathon has continued to bring students and university community members together through service and fundraising. In 2025, Eastern held its 12th Poverty Awareness marathon after a six-year hiatus. That event drew 159 participants, who collectively covered more than 200 miles, and collected 400 food items for Shawn's Cupboard and Covenant Soup Kitchen.
The 2025 event was organized with support from Eastern's Student Athletic Advisory Committee and Center for Community Engagement (CCE). This year's marathon continued the initiative, combining physical activity, fundraising, and food donations to support local organizations combating food insecurity.
Through participation and donations, the Poverty Awareness Marathon provides an opportunity for the Eastern Community to contribute to food assistance efforts on campus and in Willimantic.
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