7 truly local charities making a difference in New London, for students who want to help, even on a budget.

This first issue of Acent features seven carefully vetted, high-impact charities serving New London and the greater Southeastern Connecticut region. These organizations aren't asking for much, just your awareness and whatever support you can offer, whether that's $5 from your coffee fund or an hour of your time. Every contribution, no matter the size, creates real change in your community.

Location: New London, Connecticut

What They Do:
Safe Futures operates with an exceptional 94% four-star rating from Charity Navigator while providing comprehensive services to combat domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, trafficking, elder abuse and child abuse in Southeastern Connecticut. They operate emergency shelter services, individual advocacy, crisis intervention, legal support, safety planning, and support groups for survivors and their families. Safe Futures runs The Hope Shoppe, a donation center that provides essential items to clients leaving abusive situations with minimal belongings, operating for over 40 years and recently rebranded to emphasize the hope they provide to survivors.

Why It Matters:
Domestic violence affects people across all demographics, including college students and young professionals entering the workforce. Safe Futures provides essential safety services that can literally save lives, while their comprehensive approach addresses both immediate crisis response and long-term support for rebuilding lives. Their work serves as a crucial safety net for community members facing dangerous situations, with programs that recognize the complex needs of survivors, including pet-friendly shelter options that ensure people don't have to choose between their safety and their beloved animals.

Link to Donate or Learn More:
https://safefuturesct.org/

Location: New London, Connecticut

What They Do:
FRESH New London operates as a food justice nonprofit that builds momentum for food system change through local agriculture, community engagement, and youth leadership empowerment. Their mission focuses on dismantling systemic oppression and ensuring everyone has access to food with dignity by growing food in the city, developing youth leaders, and connecting with their community to build lasting local change. They operate urban farms and gardens, run after-school programs for youth, and work to reclaim urban spaces as productive agricultural areas that give communities power and control over their food systems.

Why It Matters:
Food security and environmental justice are critical issues that affect college students and community members throughout New London. FRESH's approach addresses both immediate food access needs and long-term systemic change by empowering young people to become leaders in creating sustainable food systems. Their work connects community members to their environment while building collective power for systemic change, making them ideal partners for students interested in environmental justice and community organizing.

Link to Donate or Learn More:
https://freshnewlondon.org/

Location: New London, Connecticut

What They Do:
United Way of Southeastern Connecticut maintains a four-star rating from Charity Navigator and Gold Seal of Approval from Candid while coordinating community resources to eliminate food insecurity throughout New London County. They inspire and coordinate generosity and commitment that sustains a united, thriving community by funding and supporting local nonprofits, running volunteer programs, and addressing systemic issues through coordinated community action. Their comprehensive approach includes funding partner agencies, organizing community-wide initiatives, and expanding access to programs that address basic needs, education, and community development.

Why It Matters:
As a coordinating organization, United Way amplifies the impact of individual donations across dozens of local programs simultaneously. They address the reality that many working people and students in Southeastern Connecticut face difficult choices between basic necessities like rent, food, and healthcare. Their 2211 system (dial 2-1-1) connects community members to resources, while their comprehensive programming addresses root causes of economic instability through coordinated services and community partnerships.

Link to Donate or Learn More:
https://www.uwsect.org/

Location: Norwich, Connecticut (serving New London area)

What They Do:
Thames River Community Service operates with an impressive 94% four-star rating from Charity Navigator while providing safe housing and support services to families and individuals experiencing homelessness throughout the region. They create environments that encourage self-sufficiency and personal control by promoting wellness, empowering people to develop achievable plans for independent living, encouraging significant employment, and teaching essential life skills. Their programs achieve remarkable success rates: 96% of families in their Family Program retain permanent housing for at least two years, and 100% of formerly homeless families in their Supportive Housing Program maintain housing for one year.

Why It Matters:
Housing insecurity affects people across demographics in the New London area, including recent college graduates entering a competitive job market. Thames River Community Service's comprehensive approach addresses both immediate housing needs and long-term stability through coordinated support services. Their high success rates demonstrate the effectiveness of providing both safe housing and the wraparound services needed to achieve lasting independence and economic stability.

Link to Donate or Learn More:
https://www.trfp.org/

Location: New London, Connecticut

What They Do:
Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut collaborates with partners to put philanthropy into action, addressing the needs, rights, and interests of communities throughout Eastern Connecticut. After 40 years of serving the community, they focus particularly on advancing racial equity through their Fund for Racial Justice and supporting children and youth through their Brighter Futures Fund for Our Kids. They provide flexible funding to organizations and movements, especially those led by people of color, while working toward their vision of a healthy, thriving, sustainable Eastern Connecticut with greater equity for all.

Why It Matters:
Community foundations serve as crucial infrastructure for local philanthropy, connecting donors with effective local organizations while addressing systemic inequities. CFECT's focus on racial justice and youth development aligns with values important to many college students, while their local knowledge ensures donations address the most pressing community needs. Their collaborative approach amplifies the impact of individual contributions by leveraging community partnerships and strategic grantmaking.

Link to Donate or Learn More:
https://cfect.org/

Location: New London, Connecticut

What They Do:
Immigration Advocacy and Support Center provides affordable legal assistance to immigrants throughout Southeastern Connecticut, helping navigate complex immigration processes and family reunification. Over their five-year history, the organization has grown exponentially while becoming a well-respected integral community member, providing legal help that makes immigration services accessible to families who might otherwise be unable to afford representation. They work one-on-one to support family-based immigration, citizenship preparation, and other essential legal services that help immigrant families achieve stability and security in their new communities.

Why It Matters:
Immigration legal services are often prohibitively expensive, leaving many families vulnerable to exploitation or unable to access pathways to legal status. IASC addresses this barrier by providing affordable, quality legal assistance that helps immigrant families navigate complex systems and achieve stability. For students interested in social justice and immigrant rights, supporting IASC means investing in legal services that directly impact families' ability to stay together and build secure futures in their communities.

Link to Donate or Learn More:
https://www.iascct.org/donate/

Location: New London, Connecticut

What They Do:
The Garde Arts Center strives to engage, enrich, entertain, educate and inspire the region of greater New London County by protecting, preserving and presenting the arts in their historic 1926 theater. They provide a cultural anchor for the community while making arts programming accessible to diverse audiences through performances, educational programming, and community events. The Garde serves as both a preservation effort for historic architecture and a vital cultural resource that brings arts programming to Southeastern Connecticut.

Why It Matters:
Access to arts and culture enriches community life while providing educational and entertainment opportunities that might otherwise require travel to larger cities. The Garde's programming serves students, families, and community members across demographics while preserving an important piece of New London's cultural heritage. Supporting the Garde means investing in cultural programming that enhances quality of life while creating opportunities for community members to experience diverse artistic expressions.

Link to Donate or Learn More:
https://gardearts.org/

These seven organizations represent decades of proven community impact, financial transparency, and effective programming in the New London area. Whether you choose to donate, volunteer, or simply share awareness with friends, you're contributing to a stronger, more supportive community that benefits everyone, including current and future Connecticut College students who call this region home.