Waterford — Charter Oak Federal Credit Union announced that it has donated $45,500 to local food pantries and shelters.

Recipients were: Saint Mary’s Church Food Pantry, Jewett City; St. Vincent de Paul Place, Norwich; New London Community Meal Center; Friends of Assisi Food Pantry, Danielson; Mystic Area Shelter and Hospitality Inc., Mystic; Covenant Soup Kitchen, Willimantic; New London Area Food Pantry, New London; Care & Share of East Lyme Inc.; New London Homeless Hospitality Center; Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center; Montville Food Bank; Norwich Community Meal Center and Interfaith Human Services, Putnam.

"We would like to thank these groups for the meaningful work they do within the community. They work hard to fulfill the unmet needs of so many individuals and families,” Brian Orenstein, Charter Oak’s president and chief executive officer, said in a statement. “We are proud to make these donations and anticipate that these organizations will appreciate the financial boost in the New Year.”

Charter Oak awarded each organization $3,500 to purchase supplies for those in need. All donations were unsolicited.

The credit union awarded more than $400,000 to students and community organizations in 2016. Among the recipients were numerous nonprofits that used the funding for educational and arts enrichment programs, employment services and social service programs.

Also included in the cumulative total were 45 college scholarship award recipients, who each received $2,000.