Help Southington Help Children In Need This Easter

SOUTHINGTON, CT — During a time where family budgets can be stretched too thin for back-to-school and end-of-year holidays, Southington is remembering those needs don't just go away in the spring.

In fact, Southington Community Services, the town's social services department, has a highly organized springtime campaign where Easter baskets are created and distributed to local clients in need.

Southington Community Services Director Janet Mellon said the program is for children from birth to high school-age and based on family income requirements.

She said the gift baskets, distributed right before Easter (Sunday, April 9, this year), feature candy, a book, stuffed animals and other, age-appropriate items.

Last year, Mellon said, Precision Realty in Plantsville was able to distribut 364 Easter baskets to Southington Community Services clients.

But even better, according to Mellon, is the fact the Easter basket program is completely funded and supplied via donations, either in cash form or candy/gift donations.

"Churches and businesses help defray the cost by holding Easter candy and items for our program," said Mellon. "Because of the generosity of the Southington community, this program does not cost our office any money."

For example, she said local resident Ray Cocozza donated more than 200 marshmallow Peeps and Patty and Glen Tavalozzi, along with Debbie Fragola, donated over 400 items for gift baskets.

And one local church, the First Congregational Church of Southington, is hosting two Easter candy collection drives on Sunday, March 12, and Sunday, March 19, in conjunction with Southington Community Services.

Church officials said the goal this year is at least 325 baskets and they're collecting individually wrapped Easter candy (like chocolate bunnies, chocolate eggs, boxes of jelly bens, etc.)

On March 12 and March 19, the big white church across from Southington's famous town green will have two donation bins for Easter candy.

According church representative Deiree Kosakowski, the bins are in the Memorial Hall and narthex portion of the church facility at 37 Main St.

For more information on Southington Community Services, click on this link.

For more information on the First Congregational Church of Southington, click on this link.