Figs Wood Fired Bistro Launches New 'Figs Feeds; to Help People in Need

Editor’s note: Newtown Patch editor Wendy Mitchell shares her journey of battling a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer, Triple Negative Metaplastic Carcinoma. Triple Negative is only found in 15-20 percent of women with breast cancer. Metaplastic is only found in 1 percent of women with breast cancer. Wendy has both. Her goal is to raise awareness and to encourage people to do self breast exams for early detection to help save lives. Click here to read more.

By Wendy Ann Mitchell (Patch Staff)

When the doorbell rang Thursday after my second chemotherapy treatment of eight, I was pleasantly surprised to see a smiling employee of Figs Wood Fired Bistro in Sandy Hook delivering us a complimentary dinner! The owner reached out to let me know she read about my illness on Newtown Patch, and wanted to help our family. The smiling young man who delivered was so sweet and said he read my story on my GoFundMe page. He said he was inspired by it and was praying for me.

Figs’ owner Kristina Tartaglia said she created the program as a way to help local families in need during tough times. Whether they have lost their job, lost a loved one or are dealing with an illness, Figs wants to help.

Each week they provide a local family with a free meal. People can nominate a deserving family by emailing kristina@figswoodfiredbistro.com.

I was moved to tears when opening the card from Kristina, who I had the pleasure of meeting when I opened a non-profit healing arts center (SHACK – Sandy Hook Arts Center for Kids) after the tragedy of 12/14.

The card read in part, “It made me happy [to read] that you’ve felt God’s presence in your life and shared the scripture ‘God is Love.’ I immediately thought of a slogan [Love Wins] from Ana Grace’s family.” In the box that came with the dinner, was a beautiful necklace that says “Love Wins.”

The Love Wins Leather Necklace was made in memory of Ana Grace Marquez-Greene by Newtown-based business A Bead of Roses and features a sterling silver “Love Wins” oval bead with an image of Ana Grace on the back.

A Bead of Roses writes: “The Love Wins Necklace represents the Greene/Marquez family slogan since 12/14/12. Although the tragedy of their daughter’s death is something they will never understand, they have committed to believing in the promises of their faith and principles of overcoming evil with good.” Proceeds are donated to the Ana Grace Project.

I will cherish this necklace as a reminder of Ana Grace and all of the Sandy Hook angels. Even on the darkest days I will remember that love always wins, and good can come from evil. Even good can come from cancer as long as I, along with thousands of other advocates, continue to work to raise awareness for early detection. Paying it forward is something I plan on doing after I’m better, and something I do now by raising awareness through #MyLeftBoob selfie self exam awareness campaign. Click here to read more and to see a #MyLeftBoob photo gallery.

Please visit the links below to learn more about Figs’ Feeds program and some other amazing, generous local organizations:

• Figs Wood Fired Bistro
• Ana Grace Project
• Ann’s Place for Cancer
• A Better Back Massage Therapy
• Salon Kamala
• Gilleoghan Irish Dance

To anyone who is currently battling cancer: Stay strong! Stay connected with positive people. Only fill your mind with good thoughts. And when you think you are done fighting, let others pick you up and help you fight some more. You can do this!

Photo #1 Colbert Photography

Photo #2, 3: Wendy Mitchell

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Wendy Mitchell is a wife and mother of three children (14, 19, 26) and the editor of Newtown, Monroe, Shelton, Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, Ridgefield, Wilton, Weston-Redding-Easton Patch sites. She lives in Bethel, Conn. with her family and one-year-old black lab rescue puppy. To contact Wendy email wendy.mitchell@patch.com.