Jordan Alter of Avon, a freshman at Franklin & Marshall College, sports the new shades that were included in the “Freshman Survival Kit” he received from Beth El Temple. The West Hartford synagogue’s College Connection committee sends the gift packages to college kids as part of its ongoing outreach efforts to keep college-age members connected to their hometown Jewish community. The kits are filled with assorted edibles and other items, as well as a letter of encouragement from the congregation’s rabbis. Alter can expect to hear from College Connection once again at the end of February, when he opens up a Purim package filled with hamantashen and other sweets.