Still Time to Support Local Funeral Homes with Gift Cards & Toys

Now through Wednesday, December 1st, Fairfield’s Abraham L. Green and Son Funeral Home at 88 Beach Rd. and several other Fairfield County funeral homes, join others across the state to welcome donations from the public for Connecticut National Guard's Operation ELF (Embracing Lonely Families) program and for Connecticut Children's Medical Center. The members of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association (CFDA) are holding its 15th annual holiday drive to collect gift cards and toys for military families and for children and teens in the hospital.

In addition, this Thursday, December 2nd from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., people can drop off items to CFDA's 133rd Convention at the Sheraton Hotel Hartford South at 100 Capital Blvd. in Rocky Hill, Conn.

Donations of gift cards and unwrapped toys may be dropped off during regular business hours at any of these Fairfield County funeral homes (listed in alphabetical order of town/city):

Danbury: Cornell Memorial Home at 247 White St.;

Fairfield: Abraham L. Green and Son Funeral Home at 88 Beach Rd.;

Greenwich: Castiglione Funeral Home at 544 Old Post Rd.;

Shelton: Riverview Funeral Home at 390 River Rd.; and

Stratford: Adzima Funeral Home at 50 Paradise Green Place.

"The funeral directors and suppliers of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association have held our own charitable holiday collection efforts for 15 years, and this is fifth year we also are inviting the public to bring donations of gift cards and unwrapped toys to local funeral homes," explains David W. MacDonald, CFSP, CPC, CCO, President of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association. "By doing so, we add 45 convenient community sites that supplement these Operation ELF’s and Connecticut Children’s own collection efforts. We encourage state residents to take a few minutes and come donate an item that can mean so much to another family."

All gift cards, toys and funds collected by the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association will be delivered directly to Operation ELF and to Connecticut Children's Medical Center before the holidays:

Operation ELF – Will be given to families of the Connecticut National Guard and all branches of the military with a loved one in the deployment cycle, that suffers financial hardship as a result of the call to active duty. Operation ELF welcomes gift cards of any dollar value for grocery or department stores, home supply stores, gas stations, and pharmacies, as well as unwrapped new toys for young people of any age.

Connecticut Children's Medical Center – Will be presented to young patients during the holidays and at different times of the year. Unwrapped toys should be appropriate for hospitalized infants, children or adolescents that do not pose a safety hazard, such as those with sharp edges or small, removable or easily breakable parts. Hospitalized teens will receive gift cards they can enjoy.

For more information and the full list of funeral homes collecting toys and gift cards through this Wednesday, December 1st, go to: https://ctfda.org/docs/pr-elf2...

The 133-year-old Connecticut Funeral Directors Association is comprised of funeral directors at more than 220 funeral homes. Based in Wethersfield, Conn., the professional organization is committed to the promotion and advocacy of high ethical standards in funeral service. This includes the development and presentation of ongoing professional training opportunities for practitioners and educational programs for association members and the public. For more information about the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association or its holiday collection drive, call 860-721-0234 or 800-919-2332 or visit www.ctfda.org