Covenant Soup Kitchen News

Eastern Connecticut State University Business Information Systems students in one of their Business Information System courses are designing database systems to help Covenant Soup Kitchen automate their internal processes and operate more efficiently and effectively. Four student teams are working with Covenant on various projects:

Pantry People System Team - This team is focusing at the complex task of developing a database system to collect information on individuals and family units that utilize Covenant's services and resources. A variety of information needs to be collected to determine what services and resources an individual or family in need is entitled to for the current year. Plus, special need considerations of individuals such as dietary restrictions, Also the relationships between individuals must be considered in providing resources.

Item Tracker System Team - This team is addressing the issue of determining which food items and categories Covenant is running low in stock and where the items are located at within the facilities as well how the food items were obtained either from private donations, corporate donations, government agencies, or purchased directly. Covenant, not only provides a food pantry service to the greater Windham community, but also runs the soup kitchen service. Hence, multiple storage areas are used at Covenant.

Souper Calendar Team - This team is addressing the issue of keeping track of volunteers and events at Covenant. A large number of individuals and groups volunteer their time and services to Covenant throughout the year. This effort requires a great deal of effort and coordination.

Souper Scheduler Team - This team is focused in on keeping track of individuals that help at Covenant throughout the year in terms of their hours performing service work and tasks. Many of these individuals need to report back their schedule of time helping at Covenant to other agencies, non-profits, and academic institutions so that they can receive credit for their efforts and services performed.

For students entering the world of Business Information Systems, analyzing, designing, developing, implementing and enhancing information system solutions in “real world” organizations are valuable learning experiences. Having BIS student teams work with real world organizations in developing and refining systems for nonprofit and startup organizations results in win-win-win situations. Students gain valuable professional real-world experience. Nonprofit and startup organizations receive information systems that help them and their employees and volunteers operate more efficiently and/or effectively and better meet their stakeholder groups’ needs. The local communities and the greater society benefit from the improved outreach and services provided by the nonprofit organizations taking part in the BIS service learning projects.



Eastern BIS Service Learning Teams Author: Dr. Citurs March 10, 2009
Eastern Connecticut State University Business Information Systems students in one of their Business Information System courses are designing database systems to help Covenant Soup Kitchen automate their internal processes and operate more efficiently and effectively. Four student teams are working with Covenant on various projects: Pantry People System Team - This team is focusing at the complex task of developing a database system to collect information on individuals and family units that utilize Covenant's services and resources. A variety of information needs to be collected to determine what services and resources an individual or family in need is entitled to for the current year. Plus, special need considerations of individuals such as dietary restrictions, Also the relationships between individuals must be considered in providing resources. Item Tracker System Team - This team is addressing the issue of determining which food items and categories Covenant is running low in stock and where the items are located at within the facilities as well how the food items were obtained either from private donations, corporate donations, government agencies, or purchased directly. Covenant, not only provides a food pantry service to the greater Windham community, but also runs the soup kitchen service. Hence, multiple storage areas are used at Covenant. Souper Calendar Team - This team is addressing the issue of keeping track of volunteers and events at Covenant. A large number of individuals and groups volunteer their time and services to Covenant throughout the year. This effort requires a great deal of effort and coordination. Souper Scheduler Team - This team is focused in on keeping track of individuals that help at Covenant throughout the year in terms of their hours performing service work and tasks. Many of these individuals need to report back their schedule of time helping at Covenant to other agencies, non-profits, and academic institutions so that they can receive credit for their efforts and services performed. For students entering the world of Business Information Systems, analyzing, designing, developing, implementing and enhancing information system solutions in “real world” organizations are valuable learning experiences. Having BIS student teams work with real world organizations in developing and refining systems for nonprofit and startup organizations results in win-win-win situations. Students gain valuable professional real-world experience. Nonprofit and startup organizations receive information systems that help them and their employees and volunteers operate more efficiently and/or effectively and better meet their stakeholder groups’ needs. The local communities and the greater society benefit from the improved outreach and services provided by the nonprofit organizations taking part in the BIS service learning projects.