Dunkin’ Announces $55K in Donations for CT Health & Hunger Relief

In March, The Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation activated $1.25 million in emergency funding to support community-based health and hunger relief organizations across the country during the COVID-19 health crisis. Today, the Foundation announced that $20,000 of that funding has been granted and delivered to three non-profit organizations throughout Connecticut to help meet the pressing needs within the local community. These grants are part of a commitment by Dunkin’, Dunkin’s Foundation and Dunkin’ franchisees to provide health and hunger organizations with the support they need, as many are seeing a significant increase in the volume of people they serve and are facing unprecedented and costly challenges in the wake of the pandemic.

The grants are making a difference by funding such vital services as emergency food boxes and meal kits for families, backpacks for kids displaced from school, and diapers for families in need. Local organizations that received funding include:

• Connecticut Food Bank, which received $10,000 in funding that will be used to support their mission to provide nutritious food and resources to people in need during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Camella’s Cupboard, based in New Milford, which received $5,000 in funding. This grant would be used to purchase food to help Camella's Cupboard feed children who have lost access to free/reduced meals due to school closures, as well as children whose parent's employment status has changed due to the COVID-19 crisis.
• National Diaper Bank Network, out of New Haven, which received $5,000 in funding for diapers, wipes, and period supplies. This grant will help provide a week's worth of diapers for approximately 9,000 children. As COVID-19 puts people out of work, the demand for diaper assistance is increasing.

In addition to the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation grants, Connecticut Dunkin’ franchisees have pledged to donate over $35,000 in gift cards and packaged coffee to multiple health and hunger relief organizations across the state to help keep our local heroes running. These organizations include:

• Bristol Hospital
• Connecticut Children’s
• Johnson Memorial Hospital
• Mount Sinai Rehab Hospital
• Saint Francis Hospital
• Saint Mary’s Hospital
• Yale New Haven Hospital
• Connecticut Food Bank
• Foodshare

Dunkin’ has also launched an online gift card site, DunkinCoffeeBreak.com, so that guests in Connecticut and across the country can send a Dunkin’ eGift Card as a small token of appreciation to thank a doctor, nurse, first responder, teacher, grocery clerk, postal worker, neighbor or any hero in their life. For every card purchased at this site, Dunkin’ will donate $1, up to $100,000, to the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation emergency funds, specifically for non-profits helping families affected by COVID-19.

The majority of Dunkin’ U.S. shops are open and have limited service to drive-thru ordering, carry-out and delivery, with a select number of locations also offering curbside service.
For more information on Dunkin’ and the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation’s coronavirus relief efforts please visit dunkindonuts.com.