New London — The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut Foundation on Tuesday presented a $7,500 check to New London Community Meal Center.

The check was a mix of donations from the both the chamber foundation and individual members of the business community, Chamber President Tony Sheridan said.

Linda Berard, president of the New London Community Meal Center, said the “contribution means the world to us,” considering the spike in number of meals served per day at the Montauk Avenue location. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the meal center has been packaging and distributing meals rather than seating people. It is serving more than 100 meals per service, an uptick of 20 to 30 meals per service.

“This money will go a long way to help support us in our efforts to feed people healthy, nutritious meals on a daily basis,” Berard said.

The meal center provides lunch five days a week and dinner six days a week and relies mostly on food obtained from the Gemma E. Moran United Way Food Bank in New London.

Editor's Note: This version corrects the name of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut Foundation.