Southbury Needy Fund Says Thank You

Dear Southbury Needy Fund Friends,

Once again you have made it possible to provide new clothing, toys, books and, where needed, winter coats, snow pants, boots, shoes, blankets, and sheets to 150 children from 68 Southbury families. Thank you so much for making Southbury the town that we are -- a caring, connected community!

Sincerely, Kathleen, Ellen, Sharon, and Deborah

Join us as we take a look back at all the generous people and groups who were part of our 2018 Christmas Giving …

ANNUAL POLICE TOY DRIVE
Southbury Police Department’s Sgt. Van Ness, Corporal Recupero, and Officers Armeno, Grillo, Citrelli, and Pierce, as well as helpers Brian and Kevin Hughes, Pat Kenney, Linda Leigh, and Linda Kosheluk led two awesome toy drives in front of TJMaxx: collecting toys, blankets, and clothing from generous Southbury Plaza shoppers. The Department also kept a collection spot open 24/7 throughout our program season so folks could conveniently drop off their gifts.

SENIOR HOLIDAY GIFT BASKETS
The Southbury Needy Fund helped fund the Holiday Gift Baskets for 120 seniors. Tamath K. Rossi, Senior Services Director, and her office team: Kathy Anderson, Ann Marie Stratton, and Terri Read organized the program. Donations were also received from town residents, as well as the Municipal Emergency Services of Southbury, The Southbury Woman’s Club, and The Heritage Village Giving Tree. Bus drivers Bruce Malone, David Deakin, Nancy Gubbiotti, Al Mazur, and George Tucker made sure all the baskets reached the recipients.

OUR CHURCHES AND PARISHIONERS
Thank you to Sacred Heart Church and the Columbiettes, St. James Lutheran Church, United Church of Christ and UCC Women’s Fellowship, Church of the Epiphany and the Upper Room, Calvary Chapel Southbury, South Britain Congregational Church, Cornerstone Assembly of God, and the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints.

OUR SCHOOLS, STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF
Thank you to Pomperaug, Gainfield, and Long Meadow Elementary Schools, Rochambeau Middle School, and Pomperaug High School, as well as the PHS Student Connect/Interact Club, National Honor Society, and Pomperaug Christian Club.

OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
Thank you to the SVFD Ladies Auxiliary for their donation towards the purchase of over 100 winter jackets and snow pants. Big thanks also go out to the Southbury Women’s Club, Southbury Juniorettes, Southbury Business Association, Thanksgiving Holiday Meal Fund, Southbury Homemakers, Region 15 BAS Program, Southbury Town employees, Grace Meadows Residents’ Association, Whiskers Cat Rescue, and Grace Lomaro, Caroline DePalma, Grace Steenburgh, Kira Nyklicek, and Maddie Villa from Girl Scout Troop 64325.

OUR BUSINESSES
Thank you to Hine Brothers, K&W Construction, Southbury Stone and Supply, Chainsaws Unlimited, Body Physics, CrossFit Strongtown Fitness, Pediatric Associates of Conn., Pediatric Dental Associates, Southbury Cardiology, The Bakery of Southbury, Julio’s Wood-Fired Pizza and Grill, Starbucks, The Gap, TJMaxx, H. B. Corporation, William Raveis R.E., Coldwell Banker R.E., Premier Financial Services, Union Savings Bank, Munson Lovetere, Great Expectations Day Care, Stop & Shop, Heads Up Hair Salon, Newbury Place, Franchise Source Brand, and PetSmart.

EVERY INDIVIDUAL DONOR AND SPONSOR
We want to give a special thank you to every person who donates each year, or sponsors a child or family. Your gift means so much to so many people. Thank you.

OUR VOLUNTEERS
Thank you to our intrepid shoppers -- Jen Masi, Heather Fabian, Mary Comunale, Jeanie Ruddy, and Robyn McMahon. And thank you to everyone who came to sort and bag and help in every way: Barbara Boston, Faith and Josiah Bova, Kathy Bellows, Paula and Sydney Baron, Denise Carpino, Kathy, Gianna and Emily Carvalho, Sue and Michael Codella, Beth Comerford, Laura Bunyan, Tara Coelho, Amanda Farren, Paula and John Michael Lavish, Julia and Keith Gotthardt, Janessa Greenwood, Leah Guerrera, Jordan Guerra, Tom, Michael and Luke Hennessy, Linda and Ethan Hocking, Brett and Jenna Landmon, Andrew Letendre, Bob Lieber, Shirley and John Michaels, Wendy and Nicole Moore, Annie O’Malley, Linda Neisser, Tara Passey, Karin Prah, , Heather Salzo, Sue Scelia, Hedy Sharp, Karen Skiba, Jennifer Skow, Scott & Savanna Stephenson, Dan Szabo, Connie Tarby, Laura Weaving, and Barbara Wheeler.

OUR LOGISTICS HEROES
Thank you to Kevin Bennett, who again secured us a place to sort and bag the new clothing and toys. And thank you to the person who makes the whole program possible - Sandy Saren, Social Services Director. Sandy compiles the list of children and their sizes and needs. Without her professional assistance, there wouldn’t be a gift program. Thank you Sandy.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Turkey Trot
The energetic members of the Southbury Women’s Club made a bountiful contribution from their Annual 5K Turkey Trot. This annual Thanksgiving event has contributed very generously to the Needy Fund every year since they began.

The Festival of Wreaths
The Southbury Business Association sponsored an amazing Festival of Wreaths at the Heritage Inn in December. Over 60 wreaths donated by area businesses were raffled off with the proceeds benefiting the Southbury Needy Fund. Our gratitude and appreciation to the Southbury Business Association and all the sponsors including the Lutheran Home of Southbury, The Heritage Inn, Waterbury Health Alliance, and Newtown Savings Bank. The next Festival of Wreaths will be early December 2019.

The Heritage Village Giving Tree
The Women’s Club and the Men’s Club of Heritage Village provided many gifts for the children on the list from their 36th Annual “Giving Tree.” Special thanks to Karen Knox and Judi Murray who again co-chaired this successful event.

Breakfast With Santa
The Annual Breakfast with Santa, sponsored by The Sacred Heart Youth Ministry and the Knights of Columbus, once again donated their proceeds to the Needy Fund. We are very grateful for their generosity!

SOUTHBURY’S OWN SANTA
Ed Wildman’s enduring wish is to make sure all the children on the list receive plenty of toys. Ed volunteers on the Police Toy Drives and also redeems bottles and cans for cash. To date, Ed has redeemed over 80,000 cans and bottles and has an account set up to donate money to the Needy Fund on a yearly basis. Big thank you to all the businesses and residents who give their bottles and cans to Ed.

WE’RE HERE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
The Southbury Needy Fund, Inc. is a nonprofit organization established in 1978 to provide Christmas gifts to needy children in the Town of Southbury. Since that time, it has evolved into a year-round fund providing assistance to Southbury families and seniors referred to us by the Social Services Department. We help our neighbors bridge the gap on emergency needs such as medical or housing expenses, car, appliance, or home repairs, and fees for school and Parks and Recreation programs.

Our year-round volunteer staff are: Kathleen Hennessy, Ellen Baczeski, and Sharon Lieber. Deborah Brody assists with publicity. Dan Szabo designed and supports our dedicated website. Find us at http://southburyneedyfund.org And on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sbyneedy/