Louis Dreyfus of Wilton Interns Provide A Day of Volunteer Service to STAR

Eight college interns and employees from Louis Dreyfus Company LLC in Wilton recently undertook a transformational service project at the STAR, Inc., Lighting the Way center in Norwalk. STAR is a nonprofit organization that has provided services to individuals with developmental disabilities in Mid-Fairfield County since 1952. The students hailed from colleges such as Yale University, Notre Dame University, Johns Hopkins University and University of Connecticut

This initiative was selected for the interns’ community service project and included updates to the STAR Center property including landscaping, weeding and mulching of landscaped gardens, vegetable and flower gardens, updating back areas and finishing the pack patio with wheelchair-accessible pathways and more. The volunteers chose this project because of the opportunity to restore the outdoor environment of STAR, a community resource that creates opportunities for individuals to live full lives with independence, freedom of choice and personal growth. A client of STAR, Robert Trost, is employed at the Louis Dreyfus Company LLC office in Wilton through STAR’s competitive employment program.

Marley Marcinczyk, Project Co-Manager, said, “We were looking for a community impact project for the summer for our interns, as they will be on the trading floor following this… (training period).” Don Thinschmit, Project Co-Manager, agreed, “When Marley identified this opportunity, it seemed like a perfect fit… One of our colleagues is a member of STAR. He’s a resident of a STAR group home and participates in the employment program and other recreational programs. We wanted to do a community service project that would help out.”

Katie Banzhaf, Executive Director of STAR, said, “We are very appreciative of the hard work of these interns, and of our long term relationship with Louis Dreyfus Company LLC. This project means a great deal to everyone at STAR and the facility looks fantastic. We are also very proud of our participant, Robert Trost, who has worked there over 20 years.”

Louis Dreyfus Company is a leading merchant and processor of agricultural goods globally. The company helps to feed and clothe some 500 million people, originating, processing, merchandizing and transporting approximately 81 million tons of commodities annually.

STAR, Inc., Lighting the Way is a not–for-profit organization serving individuals of all ages who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as providing support services to their families. They create opportunities for individuals to live full lives with independence, freedom of choice and personal growth by providing support, services and advocacy. They inform and encourage the community to recognize and appreciate the value of all individuals. For more information about STAR, Inc., Lighting the Way please visit their website www.starct.org.