Valley Dentist Helps Brighten Holidays

SHELTON- Dr. Bruce Sofferman of Smile Dental Center, 1000 Bridgeport Ave., and his family held their 33rd frozen turkey and canned food drive Nov. 20 to benefit the Spooner House and its Valley Food Bank. The donations will be made into food baskets for more than 600 Valley families in need so they can enjoy a hearty Thanksgiving.

Stuff a Truck to Benefit Spooner House

SHELTON – The Rabine Family Dentistry will be holding a special Stuff a Truck filled with non-perishable items on Saturday, November 16 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 865 River Road in Shelton.  

This will be an important food drive since many state budgets have been cut, therefore more people than ever are in need of meal support in the lower Naugatuck Valley to obtain all the ingredients necessary for satisfying holiday meals.

The Rabine Family Dentistry Center will also be collecting frozen turkeys and non perishable food items. 

Visit www.actspooner.org for other donation locations and updates for the holiday season.  Also check for updates and pictures on the ACT Spooner House Facebook page. Spooner House is asking everyone to be as generous as possible and thanks you in advance for any help you are able to provide. 

Making Thanksgiving Brighter for Families in Need

SHELTON - Dr. Bruce Sofferman of Smile Dental Center, along with his family and a turkey mascot held their 32nd annual Thanksgiving food drive Wednesday, Nov. 14 to benefit the Spooner House and its Food Bank. Donations of frozen turkeys and non-perishable food items can be dropped off at Smile Dental Center, 1000 Bridgeport Ave., anytime through the holidays, for a chance to win several prizes.

Wonderland of Trees to Benefit Spooner House

DERBY - Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St., Derby, is holding its Annual Holiday Wonderland of Trees fundraiser to support Spooner House until Dec. 21.

 

Located in the hospital’s main corridor, the fundraiser features three-foot trees decorated by hospital staff with themed ornaments and prizes to be raffled off.

 

Raffle tickets are $1 each, 15 for $10 or 40 for $20. The tickets are available at the hospital’s front desk. The winning tickets will be drawn at 2 p.m. on Dec. 21. Winners do not need to be present at the drawing.

 

Proceeds will benefit Spooner House in Shelton, which provides food, shelter and support services to people in need.

 

(This is a press release from Griffin Hospital)

Hey Valley: Get Your Ducks in a Row!

SHELTON - Have a swimmingly good time watching your duck and help support Spooner House from now until June 23. 

The Housy River Duck Race takes place June 24 at 2 p.m. starting at the Derby/Shelton Bridge on the Housatonic River. 

 

The enter-to-win tickets are $5 per duck of which $2 will support Area Congregations Together Spooner House. You may purchase your duck tickets at Spooner House, 30 Todd Road weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Any tickets you purchase will have a corresponding number for your duck during the race. 

 

Last year 150 ducks were sold by Spooner House, which resulted in $300 being raised to help financially with the ACT hunger and homeless initiatives in the Valley.

Each duck ticket will give you an opportunity to win a prize for the first 65 ducks to cross the finish line. The grand prize is $1,000 cash; 2nd place is a 55" LED HDTV, 3rd place is $500; 4th place is an Apple iPad mini; and the 5th place winner receives $250. 

 

The prizes and contest are sponsored by the St. Mary-St. Michael School Development Committee in Derby. The school group has other organizations participating in the ticket selling as well, which means there will be more ducks.

 

 “It is great to be able to support St. Mary-St. Michael School through this partnership as they have been a wonderful supporter of Spooner House throughout the years,” said Susan Agamy, Executive Director at Spooner House.

 

A list of all prizes and winners will be posted on the St. Mary-St. Michael School website at: https://stmarystmichaelct.eduk12.net/. Search for upcoming events.
 

(This is a press release from Area Congregations Together)

Great Give Raises Nearly $19,000 for Valley Homeless Shelter/Food Bank

SHELTON – The Area Congregations Together (ACT) Spooner House in Shelton was among the non-profits benefiting from the 36 hours of online giving during the Great Give^® organized by the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. Donations totaled $18,910 from 78 different individuals during the 2017 Great Give^® held on May 2 and 3.

The goal of raising more money from more people was met.

Spooner House did not receive enough donations during the designated fund raising period to unlock matching gifts and additional prize opportunities this year. Learn more about the results from Great Give® at thegreatgive.org.

In 2016 Spooner House received $17,374.27 in donations from 56 individuals and $1,310.64 in matching funds from the Valley Community Foundation and the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. More than 470 non-profit organizations participated in the 2017 Great Give^®.  

The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven’s 20 town service area includes: Ansonia , Bethany , Branford, Cheshire , Derby , East Haven, Guilford , Hamden , Madison , Milford , New Haven , North Branford, North Haven, Orange , Oxford , Seymour , Shelton , Wallingford , West Haven and Woodbridge.   

On Saturday May 13th the United States Postal Service (USPS) is running the annual

National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Everyone in the lower Naugatuck Valley is encouraged to leave a bag of non-perishable food items next to their mailbox for this important nationwide collection. All donations from Shelton Households will be donated to Spooner House.  

More detailed information can be found on the Spooner House website, www.actspooner.org.   

Non-profit Area Congregations Together, Inc. (ACT) was formed in1979 to help fill gaps in the lower Naugatuck Valley 's social service network. Today, Spooner House is operated by ACT and is a facility that provides food, shelter and support services to approximately 175 men, women and children each year.

More than 4,000 individuals have been served by the Food Bank this past year, comprising more than 120,000 meals. Spooner House is recognized as one of the most comprehensive emergency shelter programs in Connecticut and through its food bank provides ten days' worth of groceries each month to participating families throughout the lower Naugatuck Valley . Spooner House is devoted to helping people establish self-sufficiency in an atmosphere of respect and dignity. Area Congregations Together, Inc. is a partner agency of the Valley United Way.

(This is a press release from Spooner House/ACT) 

Comedy Show to Benefit Spooner House

Calling All Walkers, Joggers and Runners...

Calling all walkers, runners, and joggers! You can choose to form your own team, join a team, or register as an individual to take part in the 20th annual Walk for the Hungry and Homeless on the Derby Greenway. Registration is $20. Once registered, participants can set up their own fundraising pages. The first 200 people to register will receive an event T-shirt and goodie bag. All participants will be entered into a drawing to win prizes. The registration page is now open! Register now  and click "Set Up Your Fundraiser" to join a team or form your own. Prizes will be awarded for: - Team with most participants - Team that raises the most money - Individual that raises the most money   By joining the Walk you are supporting your neighbors in  need in the Valley receive food, shelter, and support  services with the goal of establishing a self-sufficient  living situation. Spooner House, 30 Todd Road, Shelton, is operated by  Area Congregations Together, Inc. with the mission of providing food, shelter, and support services to people in need.   (This is a press release from Spooner House)

Walk, Run & Jog for a Good Cause

Calling all walkers, runners, and joggers!
Every year supporters of Spooner House gather together to walk the Derby Greenway in support of the hunger and homeless initiatives at Spooner House.
Join us this year on May 20th for our 20th year of this tradition!

You can choose to form your own team, join a team, or register as an individual.

Registration is $20.
Once registered, participants can set up their own fundraising pages.
The first 200 people to register will receive an event t-shirt and goodie bag.
All participants will be entered into a drawing to win prizes.

The registration page is now open!

Register now
and click "Set Up Your Fundraiser" to join a team or form your own.

Prizes will be awarded for:
-Team with most participants
-Team that raises the most money
-Individual that raises the most money

By joining the Walk for the Hungry and Homeless you are supporting your neighbors in need in the Lower Naugatuck Valley receive food, shelter and support services with the goal of establishing a self-sufficient living situation.

Griffin’s Wonderland of Trees Raises $8,000 for Spooner House

 

 

 Susan Agamy, Executive Director of Spooner House, left, joined Kim Hall, Sr. Applications Coordinator at Griffin Hospital, and hospital staff in drawing tickets for the Holiday Wonderland of Trees fundraiser on Dec. 21

 

DERBY - Griffin Hospital’s annual Holiday Wonderland of Trees fundraiser collected more than $8,000 for Spooner House in Shelton to help feed and shelter area families in need this winter.

 

As part of Griffin’s Planetree Patient-Centered Care Philosophy, the Holiday Wonderland of Trees calls on hospital departments to decorate three-foot artificial evergreen trees that are raffled off. The fundraiser aims to help improve health the community by supporting the Spooner House’s free shelter and food.

 

This is the 6th year of the fundraiser, which has raised more than $37,900 in total.

(This is a press release from Griffin Hospital)

 

Griffin Hospital Hosts Wonderland of Trees Fundraiser

 

DERBY - Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St., Derby, is holding its Annual Holiday Wonderland of Trees fundraiser to support Spooner House until Dec. 21.

 

Located in the hospital’s main corridor, the fundraiser consists of more than 20 three-foot trees

decorated by hospital staff with themed ornaments and prizes such as gift cards and toys to be

raffled off.

 

Raffle tickets are $1 each, 15 for $10 or 40 for $20. The tickets are available at the hospital’s

front desk. The tickets will be drawn at 2 p.m. on Dec. 21. Winners do not need to be present at

the drawing.

 

Proceeds will benefit Spooner House in Shelton, which provides food, shelter and support

services to people in need.

 

(This is a press release from Griffin Hospital)

Spooner House to hold 2016 Annual Meeting Breakfast Wed. Oct. 19

Eat at Shelton Bertucci's Sept. 22, Help Spooner House

Hey Valley Residents: Get Your Ducks in a Row!

 

Have a swimmingly good time watching your duck and help benefit Spooner House from now until Friday, June 24. The Housy River Duck Race takes place on Saturday, June 25 at 2 p.m. starting at the Derby/Shelton Bridge on the Housatonic River . 

 

The enter-to-win tickets are $5 per duck of which $2 will support Area Congregations Together (ACT) Spooner House. You may purchase your duck tickets at Spooner House, 30 Todd Road in Shelton any Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Any tickets you purchase will have a corresponding number for your duck during the race. Last year 55 ducks were sold, which resulted in a $110 donation to ACT.

 

Each duck ticket will give you an opportunity to win a prize for the first 65 ducks to cross the finish line. The grand prize is $1,000 cash; 2nd place is four, one-day Park Hopper passes redeemable at Disney Theme Parks; 3rd place is $500; 4th place is a 50" LED HDTV and the 5th place winner receives a new Apple watch. The prizes and contest are sponsored by the St. Mary - St. Michael Development Committee in Derby . The school group has other organizations participating in the ticket selling as well, which means there will be more ducks!

 

A list of all prizes and winners will be posted on the St. Mary-St. Michael School website at:

https://stmarystmichaelct.eduk12.net/  Search for upcoming events.

 

Watch and cheer for your winning number duck during the race down the Housatonic River.

 

(This is a press release from Spooner House)                        

Valley Students Give Back

SHELTON – On May 13^th, a group of 4^th and 5^th grade students from St. Joseph’s School made a special delivery to help feed those in need in the Valley.

Students met up with a Peapod delivery truck at the Spooner House in Shelton, where they helped unload a $250 grocery donation they pieced together on behalf of Peapod’s “Kids Give Back” program.

Peapod’s “Kids Give Back Program” is designed to teach students about nutrition, shopping on a budget and how to use this knowledge to give back to local food banks.  Peapod.com, the country’s leading online grocer, challenged St. Joseph’s 4^th and 5^th grade classrooms to utilize a $250 donation from Peapod to create a delivery order of the most nutritious foods possible. The students used nutrition and budgeting lessons to put together a complete Peapod.com order which they delivered to the Spooner House Food Bank, located at 30 Todd Rd.

Peapod is committed to helping its neighbors in need. Moreover, Peapod is pleased to encourage the next generation to give back to the community and help instill healthy eating and budgeting lessons at an early age through their “Kids Give Back” program.

Cupcake Challenge to Benefit Spooner House

Thanksgiving Food Drive Nov. 20

You're invited! Spooner House Open House & Walk!

Spooner House Thanks Valley Residents and Businesses For Supporting April Food Drives

SHELTON = "The Dust Off Cruise on April 12 supported by Heav'nly Donuts in Derby netted 2,511 food items and the 13th annual Valley Has a Heart Spooner House food collection held April 18 were both very successful," said Executive Director Susan Agamy. "We came very close to our goal of $5,000. We received $2,001 cash combined with donated sponsor dollars of $2,550 for a total of $4,551.23. We received 2,763 non-perishable food items, as well. We owe the lower Naugatuck Valley residents appreciation for their continued generosity, despite the long, cold winter. Our shelves are now a lot more full thanks to their generosity."  

 

The results of the April 18th drives from the two Stop & Shop stores in Ansonia and Shelton and the Adams Super Food Store in Derby were:

Ansonia- 1,139 food items; $728.34 cash

Shelton- 1,099 food items; $896.84 cash

Derby-525 food items; $373.05 cash      

Total 'Valley Has a Heart' site sponsors were:

Dworken, Hillman, LaMorte & Sterczala, PC ( Shelton and Ansonia ): $700

Hairy Dog Grrrage ( Derby ): $350

Stop & Shop (marquee - all): $1,500

Total Sponsors: $2,550

 

Spooner House deeply appreciates all the volunteers. In Shelton, they included members of the Shelton High School National Honor Society and a number of regular Spooner House volunteers. In Derby there were staff and some of their kids, grandkids and friends, as well as two Seymour High School volunteers. In Ansonia , Spooner House had about 25 people volunteering including those from the Shelton Youth Service Bureau's Youth2Youth program, Holy Rosary confirmation class volunteers and additional Spooner House staff and interns. During the day on Saturday at Spooner House, there were more than 15 volunteers from Save Our Youth. 

Agamy noted that these critical food drives owed their success to these volunteers. “We simply couldn’t complete drives without volunteers," she said. "To us, they represent the real heart of the Naugatuck Valley .”

(This is a press release from Spooner House)

'In Love and Chocolate' fundraiser returns Feb. 8

SHELTON >> Spooner House will be one of the beneficiaries for the fourth annual In Love and Chocolate, a Valentine's holiday event, scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 8 from
1 to 4 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott, 780 Bridgeport Ave. in Shelton. The Mary A. Schmecker Turtle Shell Fund is the other beneficiary of the event featuring a chocolate lover’s paradise. Tickets are $25 each or $40 for two.

Sponsoring the event this year are the Valley Community Foundation, Charter Arms, The Glass Source Stained Glass Studio, Marks of Design and Star 99.9 WEZN radio.

Spooner House provides temporary housing and food to help the less fortunate to get back on their feet and the Turtle Shell Fund is a charity that furthers music and arts education through scholarship and programming for children and young adults.

In Love and Chocolate tickets are available at Liquid Lunch, 6 Research Drive, Marks of Design on Howe Avenue and Spooner House, 30 Todd Road , all in Shelton . Tickets may also be purchased on Event Brite using this link:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-love-chocolate-tickets-15310153080?ref=elink  For questions please e-mail Nicole Heriot-Mikula of The Turtle Shell Fund at nicole@soupstockfestival.org or call/e-mail Kate Pipa of Spooner House at 203-225-0453 x102 or kpipa@actspooner.org. Additional information may also be found on the Facebook event page.

With each ticket, patrons will be able to sample chocolate creations from the best of Connecticut ’s confectioners, sip champagne (for those 21 or older), listen to live music, enter to win door prizes and much more. The exhibitors serving up sweet samples this year include restaurants in Ansonia , Derby , Seymour , Shelton , Milford and more. Proceeds will be split between Spooner House and the Turtle Shell Fund. Vendors include: Taste & See Gourmet Cupcakes, Tidmarsh Home Bake Shop, Common Bond Market, The Pink Cupcake Shack. Stone Gardens Farm, Liquid Lunch, Nikki's Candy Boutique, Royal Bakery, Bricks & Barley Tavern, Rotk'n Chocolates, Wildflour Cupcakes & Sweets, Focaccia's Cafe & Catery, Seasonal Sweets & Catery, Courtyard by Marriot, Starbucks, Tea With Tracy and 500 Degrees.

“We look forward to the always delightful In Love and Chocolate fund raiser every year which showcases wonderful creations from local cafes, restaurants and bake shops,” commented Susan Agamy, Executive Director of Spooner House.

Non-profit Area Congregations Together, Inc. (ACT) was formed in 1979 to help fill gaps in the Lower Naugatuck Valley ’s social service network, and is a partner agency of the Valley United Way .