SOUTHWEST NEWS

Meral Prewitt

Meral Prewitt Regional Coordinator Southwest

PRESS RELEASES:
Shelton Residents Sent Children Back-to-School in Style
Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Special Projects Benefit All Participants
November 2007

By Meral Prewitt

Special projects that advocate youth are fun, exciting and benefit hundreds of small children and teens.   I’ve been told by the people coordinating these projects that they enjoy them as much as the recipients.   Examples:

Olivet Congregational Church, Bridgeport is holding a pasta dinner for the families of their matched worker, Diana Cruz from Casey Family Services.  “This year our Thanksgiving will be even more meaningful by inviting all Diana’s families to attend our warm church for an evening of fellowship and good food.  Everyone is looking forward to it so much!” said Liaison, Jean Milo.

Black Rock Congregational Church, Fairfield is hosting a Baby Shower November 17 from 10 a.m. – noon.   Veronica Douglas from WTNH will be featured.  Each week she is on camera with “Wednesday’s Child,” a segment committed to giving a voice to the voiceless children of Connecticut hoping to be adopted.

Organized by Liaisons Kelly Campbell and Sharon Salmon, the baby shower is an effort to minister and give to those less fortunate in the community who are entering foster care.  They welcome donations to this event.  Contact Sharon at 203-374-7222 or Kelly at 203-0459-1507.  New and unwrapped items needed are:  diapers, wipes, socks, onesies, bottles, infant toys/books, receiving blankets, bibs, pacifiers,  washcloths, hooded towels, diaper bags, baby bath/shampoo, and baby dolls or stuffed animals.

Christmas is around the corner and again this year several elementary schools donated hundreds, upon hundreds, upon hundreds of bags of left over Halloween candy to the children and teen foster holiday parties.  Maria Cintron-Ellis, a Department of Children and Families social worker in Bridgeport said, “The generosity shown by these children is wonderful.  We are able to sort the candy and make ‘goody bags’ for each child and teen attending the foster holiday parties.  It is the perfect use for left over Halloween candy, and the children have so much fun gathering and giving it to us.  What a nice exchange it turns out to be!”  Participating schools this year are:  Middlebrook Elementary, Jane Ryan Schools of Trumbull and Stratfield Elementary, Fairfield.

A new and exciting event benefiting teens statewide is the prom dress recycle event sponsored by the Community Outreach Committee at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Fairfield.  Coordinated by a highly energetic volunteer, Alberta Vargas, she is now collecting new and gently worn stylish dresses.  “Last spring girls attended from all over the state.  They left with beautiful prom dresses that were brand new or looked brand new.  Those able donated $10 for their dress.  At the end of the day a resident of a woman’s shelter received the proceeds from the event in order to find a dress in her size that we were not able to provide.  We were thrilled to be able to help her!”

To donate dresses for the Prom Dress Recycle Event, please contact Alberta at ajvargas@optonline.net or call the church at 203-259-3013.  She has currently acquired storage space and sixteen dresses have already been donated.

For innovative, special projects to help children, your coordinator will help—just ask!