Crew Celebrates Star Trek Day With Food Drive

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Captain’s Blog… September 17, 2025.

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The mission statement of the U.S.S. Charter Oak NCC-63545 is to celebrate Gene Roddenberry’s vision of a better future for all. Just days after the 59th anniversary of the airing of the first episode of Star Trek, members of our independent Star Trek fan association came together to collect food and products for people and pets as part of their annual “Fill the Shuttlecraft” food drive.

 

About 15 pounds and 87 dollars was collected by six members of the crew between 10 and 1 on Sunday, September 14th in front of the Chubby Dog Coffee Company along Main Street in Putnam, Conn. While the numbers were low by comparison to previous collections, every ounce of food collected will be going to help someone or some animal in need. Every dollar collected was split between the two benefactors of this drive with 45 dollars and all the human supplies going to the Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group (TEEG), and all the pet supplies and 42 dollars going to the Connecticut Humane Society in Newington, Conn.

 

In addition to that collected, members of the U.S.S. Charter Oak had the opportunity to talk with many passers-by in front of the Chubby Dog Coffee Company, a business that has allowed this crew to hold meetings and these style food drives since 2022, about what Star Trek means to them. While not everyone donated, the crew did meet many people who also talked about what this amazing franchise means to them! Who knows; maybe new crew members are just around the corner!

 

This particular “Fill the Shuttlecraft” drive kicks off the season of giving and collections by the crew of the U.S.S. Charter Oak NCC-63545. The annual winter drive is currently being planned for either November or December where the crew will be hosting a collection in front of the Stop & Shop and Petco in the Killingly Commons in Danielson, Conn.

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The Captain’s Blog is an Op-Ed style blog written by the captain of the U.S.S. Charter Oak, Ryan O’Connor. The U.S.S. Charter Oak is an independent Star Trek Fan Association located in Connecticut, but is open to anyone from anywhere on this beautiful blue and green marble. Please follow the U.S.S. Charter Oak on Facebook, Instagram, and X and check back regularly for more from The Captain’s Blog…