Southbury Needy Fund Sharing Thanks and Memories

With everyone’s help, we were able once again to gather as neighbors, sharing the bounty of warm clothes, winter boots, fun toys, and holiday cheer with 148 children from 66 local families in Southbury.
It was our 40th year in a row knitting the threads of community, and we want to thank every one of our friends and neighbors who made this holiday’s sharing such a success.

Sandy Saren, Director of Southbury Social Services, provided the names of the children on the list, and kept it up to date with last minute additions to make sure that no one would be left out.

The Southbury Police Department held two terrific Toy Drives - on Friday following Thanksgiving and on Saturday, December 3rd - and kept their drop-off box open 24/7 at the station right up to the last day before pickups. In addition to their hard work the Southbury Police Association made a generous donation to the fund.

The Ladies Auxiliary of the SVFA again helped with the funding towards the purchase of over 70 winter jackets and snow pants. Shoppers included Jen Masi, Jeanie Ruddy, Mary Comunale and Heather Fabian.

Thanks also to the Heritage Village Women’s Club co-chairs Karen Knox and Judi Murray, whose Giving Tree once again helped fill the children and the senior gift bags with toys, quilts, afghans, books, and clothing.
Holiday Cheer Baskets went out to 122 Southbury Seniors, one of the great holiday programs coordinated each year by Tamath R. Rossi and the Senior Center Department.

The Southbuy Women’s Club continued their generosity to the Fund with a donation from the proceeds of the Turkey Trot. The Juniorettes, part of the Southbury Women’s Club, provided gift bags for all the tween and teen girls on the Needy Fund List. Their help each year is much appreciated.

The story would not be complete without thanks to all the churches, schools, organizations, businesses, and youth groups in town who helped including Pomperaug, Gainfield and Long Meadow Elementary Schools,Rochambeau Middle School, and Region 15 Before and After School Program, Sacred Heart Church, United Church of Christ, Saint James Lutheran Church and the Church of the Epiphany and the Upper Room. Thank you to the organizers of the annual Thanksgiving Holiday meal, and to Sacred Heart Parish Breakfast with Santa, both of whom donated funds raised by their events.

Many individuals came to volunteer to sort and bag the clothing, along with The PHS Interact Club, Calvary Church Youth and the Christian Chapel Pro Teen Youth Group. These volunteers spent hours transforming the ‘mountain’ of gifts into neat rows of festive bags, filled to the brim with needed items, all ready to go to each waiting family.

Kevin Bennett was our man with a plan, donating space at the former Ladybug Cake and Candy Shop to serve as a spacious sorting site.

Local merchants pitched in too. Newbury Place Gift Shop held a “Pay It Forward” event in November, donating 15% of each purchase on that day to our fund. And TJ Maxx made a welcoming space outside their store to host both of the Southbury Police Department’s outdoor Toy Drives. The Southbury Business Association and a host of individual businesses took part as well, including Hine Brothers, DiPalma’s New York Pizza Restaurant, Heads Up Hair Salon, Raveis Realty, Coldwell Banker Real Estate, The Gap, Franchise Source Brands, Pediatric Associates, Southbury Cardiology, Carpino, Southbury Stone and Supply, Munson Lovetere, K&W Construction, Philco Communications, and Union Savings Bank. Starbucks, Catalyst Gym, CrossFit Strongtown, and Great Expectations Daycare held gift drives of their own, adding their proceeds to ours. We also thank the Road Dog Open Golf Tournament for their donation to the fund.

Last, but never least, are our own volunteers - Ellen Baczeski, Kathleen Hennessy, and Sharon Lieber - who are the heart and soul of Southbury Needy Fund, with special thanks to Gosia Liedlich, Southbury’s webmaster, who helped get the word out on the town website’s community pages as well.

So, to everyone who sponsored a child, who brought a gift, who wrote a check, or held an event, or donated a space, or a skill, or hours of your time volunteering -- thank you! Together, we are community.