Category Archives: Volunteers

A Sunny Saturday For Scotty

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A Sunny Saturday For Scotty ~ By Wendy Mitchell

Linda Anderson and her son Brett

After nearly a week of rain, the sun warmly welcomed the hundreds who came out to the 15th Annual Scotty Fund town picnic on Saturday, September 10. The non-profit organization is named for Scotty Anderson, who would have been 18 years old this year, had he not lost his life at the age of 3 to cancer.

“He would have been starting out his freshman year at college,” said Chuck Murad, a family friend of the Andersons who DJ’d the event. Chuck went to Bethel High School with Linda, Scotty’s mother, and has helped out at the event since it began 15 years ago. Dozens of volunteers manned the booths that filled the entire lawn of the Municipal Center.

Bouncy houses, pony rides, a dunk tank and many other kid-friendly activities entertained children and helped to raise money for a great cause. The Bethel High School Honor Society students painted kid’s faces, students dressed as princesses and many volunteers sold t-shirts and other items to help raise money for the fund.

The Scotty Fund provides financial and family support to children with life threatening or critical illness in Bethel and surrounding areas.

“We can’t do what we do without the dedication and help from all of these great volunteers,” Linda Anderson said.

Linda, along with her husband Mark, founded the non-profit organization which serves about 18-25 families from Bethel and surrounding towns.

Grant money is given to children for medical expenses, transportation and other costs. Additional support the organization provides include cooking meals, providing child care, running errands and grocery shopping.

The 475 tickets for The Scotty Fund’s Winter Gala were already sold out by 3:00 p.m., Linda said. The event will be held on Saturday, December 3rd from 6:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m.  at the Ethan Allen Hotel in Danbury.

For more information about The Scotty Fund call (203) 743-1388 or click here.

Become a Volunteer Group Facilitator For Healing Hearts

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Become a Volunteer Group Facilitator For Healing Hearts

The following is a press release from The Healing Hearts Center for Grieving Children & Families, an award-winning program of Regional Hospice and Home Care of Western CT, Inc. offering support groups, workshops, and educational events to help children, teens and adults cope after the loss of a loved one.

For Immediate Release: August 8, 2011

Become a Volunteer Group Facilitator For Healing Hearts

You can help grieving children and adults find support, compassion and acceptance after the death of their parent or sibling. Regional Hospice and Home Care of Western CT, Inc. seeks volunteers to assist with grief support offered by The Healing Hearts Center for Grieving Children & Families.

Volunteer group facilitators will complete a professionally led training that is required of all volunteers. After completing the 20 hour training, volunteers work in teams to create a safe environment for children, teens and parents/caregivers to discuss their grief issues. On-going supervision, instruction and support from the Program Manager (as well as other program staff) help volunteer facilitators develop their capacity to be a helpful presence to the bereaved.

Healing Hearts Group facilitators are asked to make a one-year commitment for either Tuesday or Thursday. Groups meet bi-weekly September-June and once a month in July and August. Regular attendance is essential to maintain continuity with the children and families. Volunteer facilitators participate from 5:15 to 8:30 p.m., including meetings with program staff members before and after the support groups for preparation and debriefing.

Volunteers must be 21 years or older and agree to a criminal background check and fingerprinting prior to assuming their volunteer role. Participation in the volunteer training and continuing education is required. Volunteers facilitators must be able to work as a team member, maintain an atmosphere of respect and non-judgement, respect confidentiality, and be dependably present to participants, other volunteers and staff of the program. Individuals from varied backgrounds and career experiences are welcome to apply—compassionate, caring and empathetic listeners are welcome.

Anyone interested in exploring the possibility of becoming a Healing Hearts volunteer facilitator may contact Joanna DeNicola, LCSW, Healing Hearts program manager at (203) 792-4422 or  email:JDeNicola@RegionalHospiceCT.org.

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The Healing Hearts Center for Grieving Children & Families is an award-winning program of Regional Hospice and Home Care of Western CT, Inc. offering support groups, workshops, and educational events to help children, teens and adults cope after the loss of a loved one.

Regional Hospice and Home Care of Western CT, Inc. offers real hope for those facing advanced illness through patient-focused care, education, resources and advocacy. We help patients and families discover what end-of-life care can be—what can be gained, what can be realized and what can be recaptured. For more information, visit www.RegionalHospiceCT.org.

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For More Information:

 

Joanna DeNicola

 

Healing Hearts Program Manager

 

Regional Hospice and Home Care of Western CT

 

(203) 792-4422

 

JDeNicola@RegionalHospiceCT.org

BUMC Sends Off 50 Volunteers With Blessings

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BUMC Sends Off 50 Volunteers With Blessings ~ By Wendy Mitchell

Bethel United Methodist Church members joined hands Saturday morning for a large prayer circle as they sent off 50 volunteers to Appalachia, West Virginia for the Appalachia Service Project.

In case you were driving by 141 Greenwood Ave. this morning and were wondering what all that cheering was for, it was the Bethel United Methodist Church sending off church members on a local missions trip.

The Rev. Vicky Fleming, along with a large group of parents and well wishers, sent off 50 volunteers Saturday morning with blessings and prayers. The group set off on their 600-mile journey to Appalachia, West Virginia for the Appalachia Service Project, a charitable organization that helps the needy rebuild and repair homes.

The church rented 7 Chevy Suburbans that were each sponsored by a church member and/or local business. Each vehicle costs approximately $1,000 to rent for the week.  The group will stay at an ASP center during the week as they work on homes. The caravan of the 7 Suburbans along with 2 cargo vans left the church Saturday morning at approximately 9:00 a.m. as family members clapped, hugged, cheered and wiped away tears for those they will miss during the week.

The group will return next Saturday with heartwarming stories about their journey, both physical and spiritual.

For more information about the Bethel United Methodist Church click here.

For more information about the Appalachia Service Project click here.

Pictures below by Wendy Mitchell, editor of Bethel Buzz & John Robertson, owner of Create My DVD.

Bethel Target To Hold "National Night Out" Safety Event

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For Immediate Release-

Contact:

Joshua Toetenel

Target

203-448-1029

National Association of Town Watch Partners with Target for Sponsorship of the 27th Annual National Night Out.

Bethel, CT— Target is participating as a sponsor of the 27th Annual National Night Out (NNO) event on August 2, 2011, marking the seventh year of its partnership with the National Association of Town Watch. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and goes until 8:30 p.m.

Target will offer support to the community by bringing them together with their law enforcement and emergency services.

Bethel Police Department will be there with their K9 unit and SWAT gear. Other local services will also be there along with face painting and free food.

This sponsorship is part of the ongoing support Target provides to local communities throughout the country. Since 1946, Target has given 5% of its income to the communities it serves. Today, that equals more than $3 million to support education, the arts, social services, and volunteerism.

Target also has a proud history of partnership with local law enforcement agencies. Through its Target & BLUE program, Target supports local law enforcement by sharing information, technology and expertise while focusing on safety and security issues that affect guests, team members and communities.

In 2010, more than 36 million people across the nation participated in NNO by attending their neighborhood block party.

“We are committed to being good community partners,” said Joshua Toetenel, SR. Target Protection Special, Target #1528.

“That means getting involved with local organizations and offering our support.”

About the National Association of Town Watch

The National Association of Town Watch (NATW) is a nonprofit, crime prevention organization

that works in cooperation with thousands of crime watch groups and law enforcement agencies throughout the country. Since 1981, NATW has been dedicated to the development, growth and maintenance of organized crime and drug prevention programs nationwide. NATW’s network has grown to include over 6,000 crime, drug and violence prevention organizations. More information on NATW and its mission can be found at www.NationalNightOut.org.

About Target

Target Corporation’s retail segment includes large general merchandise and food discount stores and Target.com, a fully integrated online business. In addition, the company operates a credit card segment that offers branded proprietary credit card products. The company currently operates 1,740 Target stores in 49 states. Target Corporation news releases are available at www.target.com.

Pro Access Volunteer Recognition Ceremony

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At 5pm on Wed 15th June, Hilda DeLucia began the formalities by thanking everyone for attending both the Open House, which had started at 12noon (see previous article) and the Recognition Ceremony. She explained that the volunteers were a combination of adults, teens and companies.  The support she has received for the teen center has been beyond what she could have imagined. Among the many benefactors, she mentioned that Codfish Hill Construction supplied the paint that brightened up the space so much. Rings End Lumber provided wood for the cubicles and countertops. Bobs Furniture provided, among other items, the wonderful mirror that hangs by the piano.

She noted that the Pro Access Center was the first organization not connected to the schools to get a grant from the Bethel Education Foundation. She believes this speaks to the fact that the Foundation recognizes the need for teens to have a safe place to connect after school.

In fact, says DeLucia, the whole town rallied in many different ways. But she drew attention to Selectman Richard Straiton, who she feels was the backbone with the move to the temporary premises. Between November 2010 to March 2011, he spent part of almost every Wednesday working on making this temporary home work. She pointed out emphatically that she couldn’t have done this without him.

She also mentioned that both Selectman Paul Szatkowski and First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker recognized the need for a temporary home too and helped push the process forward.

Knickerbocker then spoke and thanked Szatkowsky and Straiton for their efforts and input. He mentioned that one of the first things that landed on his lap in 2009 was the lead and asbestos report. This led to the decision that the old facility was no longer safe for teens. There were also parking issues. At that point, he put the “teen issues” on hold and started seeking grant money. He emphasized that during these years, DeLucia has been very patient.

He says that Straiton, being the architect and builder, has come up with the idea of building an annex on the side of the high school gym, but there are many things to be done before this vision can become a reality.

Straiton himself said a personal “thank you” to DeLucia. He remembered the time when the Town Hall was a school and said it gladdened him to see kids back in the building.

DeLucia recognized the Youth Commission, saying “farewell” to the high school representative and welcoming the new one. There are many exciting changes happening in the Pro Access Bethel Teen Center, plus a lot of the favorites staying on board. Everyone agreed that it was the combined effort of the community that brought the Pro Access to its new, albeit temporary, home. The pictures with captions can be found on our Facebook page.