Valley agencies benefit from drive at Shelton shop

Needy children to go back to school in style

Pictured at J Cuts in Shelton are front row from left:  Tylice MacDonald, Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Child Resource Center; Jennifer Sneider, owner, J Cuts; Karen Martinez, Child FIRST Care Coordinator, LNV PCRC.  Back row from left:  Jen DeLeon, Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley; Jane Bailey, Shelton School Readiness Council; and Suzanne Reilly, Director,  Family Support Services, TEAM Inc. / Contributed photo 


SHELTON - When it comes to children in need, the Valley always comes through.

For the eighth consecutive year, an Annual Book Bag & School Supply drive has been a great success.  More than 100 book bags and an abundance of back to school supplies were collected this year. 

This drive was originally started by the owners of Luther's Garage, which is now closed. It continues on an annual basis through J Cuts at 505 Howe Ave.

Each year beginning July 1, Jennifer Sneider, owner of J Cuts, provides the main collection location for supplies such as book bags, book covers, rulers, pens, pencils, erasers, notebooks, binders, glue, crayons, calculators, pencil sharpeners, paper, folders, and more.  

"The outpouring kindness of the community always warms my heart," Sneider said. “So many people stop by to drop off donations. Many of my customers do not hesitate to hand me five or 10 dollars so I can pick up what we are falling short on.  It is amazing how it all balances out for children in need.” 

Minuteman Press at 427B Howe Ave., donated collection posters again this year. 

For a third year the Shelton Community Lions Club collected supplies during weekly summer concerts on the Huntington Green.  As a result, they were able to contribute greatly to the drive.

The Shelton Community Lions Club purchases eye glasses for less fortunate children, coordinates pediatric eye screenings for daycare centers, and runs a poster contest for 11-13 year olds.

For the first time this year, Rehabilitation Associates, Inc. at 1931 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield, held a collection and dropped off supplies at J Cuts.
 In addition, members of the First United Methodist Church in Shelton held their own drive and dropped off some last minute donations.
 

As an added bonus this year, coordinators of the drive were contacted by Jackie Romaniuk, Dental Health Care Specialist with the Connecticut Dental Health Partnership (CTDHP), the dental plan for HUSKY Health. 

They provided oral kits each containing a tooth brush, toothpaste, floss and oral health education. 

The CTDHP is the dental plan for HUSKY Health and promotes good oral hygiene to more than 700,000 children and adults on the HUSKY Health plan. For the last two years, CTDHP has partnered with community agencies, primary care providers and OB/GYN offices across the state to share oral health kits with children and pregnant women who are HUSKY Health members.

“The oral health kits contain tips to keep the mouth healthy as well as the importance of maintaining a healthy mouth to maintain a person’s general health," Romaniuk said. "The beginning of the school year traditionally correlates with starting new routines and habits. This seems like the perfect opportunity to spread the oral health message of the importance of daily oral hygiene and scheduling a dental exam.”

HUSKY Health members can contact the CTDHP call center at 855- CT- DENTAL or visit www.ctdhp.com for help connecting to one of the 1,900 dental providers available.  

Children receiving donations from this community drive are served by TEAM, Inc.in Derby, the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Shelton School Readiness Program and the Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Child Resource Center, all in Shelton, and BHcare in Ansonia.

The oral kits were given to students who received back to school donations, as well as kindergarten students at Irving School in Derby and the Milford Department of Children & Families office.

Monkey Love Drive

J Cuts will be the main collection site beginning Jan. 1 for the Ninth Annual Monkey Love Valentine Drive.  

Although this community drive officially kicks off on Jan. 1, donations are accepted at any time.  Donations must be new, stuffed monkeys with tags.

This drive will benefit the same groups of children in need as the Back to School Book Bag & School Supply Drive.

The more stuffed monkeys collected, the more the donations will be shared with additional agencies who assist needy children.

Any individual, group, business or organization is welcome to join in the Annual Monkey Love Valentine Drive by holding a collection. 

Call Sneider at 203-924-4107 with questions or for more information.

This post is taken from a lightly edited press release from the drive organizers.

Annual school supply drive starts in Valley

Pictured at J-Cuts in Shelton in August, 2013 are from left: Michelle Sanders, Boys & Girls Club of the LNV and Jennifer Sneider, Owner, J Cuts. Back Row: Karen Martinez, Child FIRST Care Coordinator, LNV Parent Child Resource Center; Tylice MacDonald, LNV Parent Child Resource Center; Suzanne Reilly, Director of Family Support Services, TEAM Inc.; Jane Bailey, Shelton School Readiness Council; Dave Haddad, President of Shelton Community Lions Club; Jennifer Olson, Principal of Irving School and Tony Vellucci, Development Officer, Spooner House./ Contributed photo


SHELTON - When it comes to children in need, the Valley never lets them down! 
For the eighth consecutive year, the Annual Book Bag & School Supply drive has begun again. Between now and Aug. 30, book bags and school supplies are being collected around the Valley.

Last year, more than 76 book bags and an abundance of back to school supplies were collected. This drive, originally started by the owners of Luther's Garage, which is now closed, continues on an annual basis through Jennifer Sneider, owner of J Cuts, located at 505 Howe Ave.
J Cuts is the main collection location. 
Supplies may include book bags, book covers, rulers, pens, pencils, erasers, notebooks, binders, glue, crayons, calculators, pencil sharpeners, paper and folders. Supplies are collected for all school-aged children from pre-school to high school. All book bags and supplies must be brand new. "The outpouring of kindness within the community always warms my heart," said Sneider. 
“So many people stop by to drop off donations. Many of my customers do not hesitate to hand me five or 10 dollars so I can pick up what we are falling short on. It is amazing how it all balances out for children in need,” she said.
Minuteman Press in Shelton is also donating collection posters. 
Last year, Dave Haddad of the Shelton Lion’s Club, led his organization in a weekly collection. Book bags and supplies were collected during free summer concerts held Wednesday evenings from 7-9 p.m. on the Huntington Green. 

Other local businesses and organizations are invited and encouraged to join in by holding collections of their own to add to the donations.
Children who received donations last year are serviced by TEAM, Inc. and Irving School, both in Derby, along with the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Area Congregations Together/Spooner House, Shelton School Readiness Program and the Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Resource Center, all in Shelton. 

J Cuts is also the main collection location for the Annual Monkey Love Valentine Drive. The 9th Annual Drive will begin Jan. 1, 2015. 
Although this community drive officially kicks off on Jan.1st, donations are accepted at any time. Donations must be new, stuffed monkeys preferably with tags. 

The monkey drive benefits the same groups of children in need as the Back to School Book Bag & School Supply Drive. 
For more information on either drive, call Jennifer Sneider at J Cuts, 203-924-4107.

This is a press release from Jennifer Sneider, owner, J Cuts in Shelton.

Corporate Volunteer Council raises $15K to feed children

'Give A Duck' fund-raising effort in Shelton

Rubber ducks fill pool around fountain at 'Give-A-Duck' event Thursday at Corporate Park in Shelton./ Contributed photo

SHELTON - The Valley United Way Corporate Volunteer Council raised $15,000 to address food insecurity in children over the summer months as part of the 2014 Day of Action.

In an effort to address growing concerns about food insecurity in the Valley towns of Ansonia, Derby, Seymour, Shelton and Oxford, the Valley United Way Corporate Volunteer Council sold rubber ducks for $5.
The fund-raising effort concluded June 19 at Shelton Corporate Park, where rubber ducks were placed into the water fountain to represent the thousands of children who will receive meals this summer.

“We are delighted to address the food needs of the Valley community through continuing events involving the Valley Corporate Community. Our goal is to open hearts to fill the Valley food pantries to fill lives throughout the year, particularly when children who rely on free or reduced-price school lunches are home from school. These children should be focusing on fun, not coping with hunger,” CVC Co-Chair Kristen Urso-Rio said.

“The ducks in the fountain represented the children that will be fed this summer.  We were able to raise awareness to this issue, reach out and make a difference,” Katie Scinto, CVC Co-Chair, said.

                                                          

This initiative is taking place as part of the Day of Action.
United Way rallies communities each year near the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, to make a collective impact in a call to action to create a measurable difference.

Food during the summer is critical for children who are part of the supplemental nutritional assistance program, otherwise known as SNAP. During the summer months, these children do not receive meals they would be provided during the school year, which places added stress on families currently in need.

For more on this story, visit - http://www.valleyunitedway.org/index.php/15000-raised-in-cvcs-day-of-action/.

Valley United Way is the leading philanthropic resource for the Valley towns of Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton matching the needs of the community and the interests of donors to improve the quality of life in the community. 

United Way supports and creates initiatives addressing youth, families and people in crisis.

Contact Patricia Tarasovic, Director of the Volunteer Center, at patricia.tarasovic@valleyunitedway.org or at 203-926-9478 for more information.

This is a press release from Valley United Way. 

Barber shop in Shelton starts monkey love drive

By Patricia Villers, New Haven Register

Posted: 12/27/13, 10:55 PM EST  

Love comes in all shapes and sizes, especially the kind that comes from plush monkeys.

It’s time again for the Monkey Love Drive, started eight years ago by owners of the now closed Luther’s Garage auto-repair business in downtown Shelton.

The idea is simple: Collect monkeys to be distributed to less fortunate children on Valentine’s Day.
A growing pile of stuffed simians has already taken over a large table at J-Cuts Barber Shop at 505 Howe Ave., Shelton.

Jennifer Sneider surrounded by stuffed monkeys.

Owner Jennifer Sneider said Thursday the drive started earlier this month and that’s why she already has so many in her shop.

“It’s always so much fun,” said Sneider. “The kids (who come into the shop) get a little confused. They think the monkeys are for sale or they can take them, like the lollipops.”

Sneider said most of the ones already collected were donated by members of the Milford Fire Department.
She said she doesn’t really set a collection goal. “It’s always just a challenge to beat (the number collected) last year, and that’s what keeps us going.”

This is the fourth year she has spearheaded the drive at her shop.
Sneider said, “It is an amazing feeling to know each and every one of these monkeys will find comfort in the arms of a child in need and the children will find comfort in these monkeys. Each year, we hope to have an even more successful drive to create miles of smiles on the faces of precious children in great need.”

Additional drop off locations include Minuteman Press, 427 Howe Ave., Suite 2, and the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce office, 10 Progress Drive, second floor, both in Shelton.
For the fourth year, Topside Cafe, 333 Boston Post Road, Milford, is a drop-off site. Last year, the business collected about 50 plush monkeys.

Members of the Keith Urban “Ville” fan club and Facebook page send stuffed monkeys to Connecticut from all over the world. Last year, Urban’s fans collected more than 1,160 of the toys.

A total of 1,628 children received monkeys last Valentine’s Day.
The children were clients of TEAM, Inc. in Derby, BHcare in Ansonia, and Griffin Hospital in Derby, among others.
For health reasons, the monkeys must be new and clean with tags.


Have questions, feedback or ideas about our news coverage? Connect directly with the editors of the New Haven Register at AskTheRegister.com.

Salvation Army gives out school supplies at Fun Fest in Ansonia

Inflatable basketball hoops stand ready Sunday morning for the kids to arrive.

ANSONIA - As members of the Advisory Board for the Greater Valley Salvation Army, my husband Ralph and I attended Sunday afternoon's Back-to-School Fun Fest at the Salvation Army HQ. It was a wonderful event for some of the needy families in the Valley.
 

Salvation Army Major Theresa Burkholder, who has been working in Ansonia for five years, has been reassigned to Providence. Staff and volunteers will soon welcome Lieutenants Anthony and Stephanie Rivera and their son, Ethan.

 

The line started to grow as it got closer to 1 p.m. Two Griffin Hospital Valley Parish Nurses, Cary Carpino and Maggie Sessa, arrived with the hospital's mobile Resource Center to do their community outreach work.

Seventh grader Jontea Hargrove, 12, of Ansonia, is 'wearing' three backpacks she had picked up for herself and siblings. Her sister, Anjahane McFadden, 2, was along for the fun.

This little guy was learning how to bounce a basketball.

He didn't quite seem to get the hang of the hula hoop.

This girl braved the dunk tank. Here she is on her way into the water.

The line to take a turn was long but the kids didn't seem to mind the wait.

It's safe to say everyone who attended the fun fest had a good time. There was also a bounce house, which was a big draw for the little ones.

Hot dogs, chips, cupcakes, and lemonade were available for all, as were school supplies for those who had pre-registered. There were some extra ones given out to those parents who could produce proper identification.

Inside the sanctuary, backpacks filled with supplies and categorized for children going into K-Grade 5, middle school Grades 6-8 and high school.

And more!

Deflated hoops game symbolizes the party is over.

Plaudits go out to all those who organized the event to make back-to-school a positive experience for needy children.

And I wish Major Theresa all the best in her new position.

7th annual book bag drive slated for Valley children

Plan in the works for back to school

Pictured from left are Frank Yaworowski, President, Shelton Community Lions Club; Jennifer Sneider, Owner, J Cuts; Jennifer DeLeon, Boys & Girls Club of the LNV and Scharletta Samuel, T.E.A.M., Inc. of Derby, at J Cuts in Shelton last summer. / Contributed photo

SHELTON - When it comes to children in need, the Valley never lets them down. 

For a seventh consecutive year, the Annual Book Bag & School Supply drive has begun.

Between now and Aug. 30, book bags and school supplies are being collected around the Valley.

 Last year, more than 110 book bags and an abundance of back to school supplies were collected.

This drive, originally started by the owners of Luther's Garage, which is now closed, continues on an annual basis through Jennifer Sneider, owner of J Cuts, located at 505 Howe Ave.

J Cuts is the main collection location. Supplies may include book bags, book covers, rulers, pens, pencils, erasers, notebooks, binders, glue, crayons, calculators, pencil sharpeners, paper and folders. Supplies are collected for all school-aged children from preschool to high school. 

All book bags and supplies must be new.

"The outpouring of kindness within the community always warms my heart," Sneider said. “So many people stop by to drop off donations. Many of my customers do not hesitate to hand me five or 10 dollars so I can pick up what we are falling short on. It is amazing how it all balances out for children in need.”

Other collection locations include Minuteman Press, 427B Howe Ave., and Haynes Materials locations in Seymour and Oxford. Minuteman Press is also donating collection posters.

For a third year in a row, Dave Haddad of the Shelton Lions Club, is leading his organization in a weekly collection.  Book bags and supplies can be donated during free summer concerts held Wednesdays from 7-9 p.m. on the Huntington Green.

 

Children who benefited from this community effort last year included those serviced by T.E.A.M., Inc. of Derby and the Boys and Girls Clubs in Shelton and Ansonia. 

Monkey Love

J Cuts is also the main collection location for the Annual Monkey Love Valentine Drive. 

The eighth Annual Drive will begin Jan. 1, 2014.

The monkey drive benefits the same groups of children in need as the Back to School Book Bag & School Supply Drive.

For information on either drive call Jennifer Sneider at J Cuts, 203-924-4107.

This post is taken from a press release.

 

Tourney in April to benefit CT Partnership for Children

Taken from Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller's Facebook page:
 

I wish CT Partnership for Children, Inc. founder Meghan Tarby much success in her efforts to help needy children in Connecticut.

Valentines, monkeys to make children happy

Monkey see, monkey do? Drive was a success

Stuffed simians fill J-Cuts, 505 Howe Ave., Shelton. / Contributed photo

The seventh annual Monkey Love Valentine Drive shaped up to be one of the most successful collections ever, organizers said in a release.

 

Over 1,500 stuffed monkeys were collected by various groups and companies in the area. 

Eileen Henri, a member of Keith Urban's online community, the "Ville," who resides in Derby, coordinated a collection again this year.  

Plush monkeys were sent from Australia, Canada, and Spain as well as from people in 32 states.

Urban's fans collected more than 1,160 monkeys. Their goal was to collect more than last year, which netted 719. 
With the generous support and kindness of Urban's fans, they went way beyond their goal and continued to make this drive a global effort.

 
Community shows it cares 
 
Jennifer Sneider, owner of J-Cuts, 505 Howe Ave., Shelton, said she was amazed at the outpouring of kindness from the community and the Keith Urban "Ville" fan club and Facebook fans.

"Especially with the way our economy has been lately," Sneider said, "I didn't expect to collect so many monkeys."  

Additional collection locations in Shelton included Huntington Family Dental Group, 534 Shelton Ave., Minuteman Press, 427 Howe Ave., Suite 2, and the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, 10 Progress Drive, second Floor.

The Shelton Lion’s Club held its own collection.  Because they will be putting together Easter food and candy baskets for less fortunate families in Shelton, the monkeys were donated right back to their organization to include in these baskets. 

Minuteman Press donated posters for the collection again this year. 

Haynes Group, Inc., headquartered in Seymour, held a collection toward the end of January. With locations in Seymour, Oxford, Naugatuck, Torrington, and Deep River, they quickly collected more than 100 monkeys. 

Ruth Rogers, owner of Topside Cafe, 333 Boston Post Road, Milford, along with Mary Finnegan and Lenny Marconi, held their third Annual Monkey Love Valentine Drive Jan. 27. They collected about 50 stuffed monkeys this year. 

They will hold a Monkey Love Sunday celebration each year on the Sunday before Superbowl. They said they hoped to have other area pubs in Milford and Shelton join in for this annual event to benefit children in need. 

This annual event benefits abused and neglected children, impoverished, adopted and sick children, and frightened children involved in police calls, as well as children who may feel a little left out when a younger sibling is born and children treated for cancer or other illnesses at local hospitals. 

Last year the Monkey Love Valentine Drive collected and distributed 907 stuffed monkeys to area organizations who serve children in need.  

The drive will benefit children serviced by the Ansonia, Milford, and Lower Naugatuck Valley (Shelton) Boys & Girls Clubs, Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital in New Haven, Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital at Bridgeport Hospital Campus, TEAM, Inc. in Derby and Ansonia, BHcare’s Center for Domestic Violence Services in Ansonia, the Seymour Police Department, Griffin Hospital, Derby and Sunnyside School, Shelton. 

Although a representative of the children who attended Sandy Hook Elementary School mentioned they could not accept donations because they still have a warehouse full, an extra 100 stuffed monkeys were given to Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital in honor of the children. 

In addition, 26 monkeys were wrapped and given out with a Valentine card as a surprise to various children in the Newtown area. 

“This is my third year doing it,” Sneider said. “We have so much fun. My customers get involved and my teen-aged daughter and her friends join in to help by decorating the barber shop in anticipation of a whole bunch of monkeys moving in for a little while,” she said. “It is an amazing feeling to know each and every one of these monkeys will find comfort in the arms of a child in need and the children will find comfort in these monkeys.” 

For information on participating next year, call J-Cuts, 203-924-4107.

The information in this post was taken from a press release. 

Benefit with Easter Bunny planned in Oxford

Have fun and help needy children 

OXFORD -  The Easter Bunny is coming March 23 to Colonial Tavern, 24 Hawley Road.

This event will be run just as the Breakfast with Santa was run: Doors open at 8:45 for the 9 a.m. seating, egg hunt at 9:45 a.m. 
Doors open at 9:45 a.m. for the 10 a.m. seating, egg hunt at 10:45 a.m. 

The Easter Bunny will be available for picture-taking from 9-11 a.m.

The cost is $5 a person and one package of new, unopened diapers or wipes per table/family. Children ages 2 and under are free. 

Family-style breakfast and juice/coffee/tea included. Please let us know if you require a high chair.
Reservations are highly recommended. Ticket sales and reservations open Feb. 19. This event sold out last year.

Tickets will be on sale beginning 2/19 online at www.ctpfc.org and also at the Mad Hatter Boutique in downtown Seymour, Great Expectations Child Care in Southbury, or by calling Colonial Tavern, 203-264-8244.

All proceeds go directly to Connecticut Partnership for Children, Inc.

This information is taken from a release from Meghan Tarby, executive director, Connecticut Partnership for Children.

Stuffed monkey drive needs your help

Sneider

Monkeys, monkeys, everywhere ~

The seventh annual Monkey Love drive is in full swing.

Help out this worthy cause and donate a huggable plush monkey to put a smile on a needy child's face this Valentine's Day.  


Pictured here is Jen Sneider, owner of J Cuts, a barber shop at 505 Howe Ave., Shelton.

For the third consecutive year she's coordinating the drive and collecting stuffed monkeys of all shapes and sizes.

Kudos go out to her and to all who help collect and distribute the stuffed simians.

LETTER: TEAM toy drive Valley's best yet

* I read this letter to the editor in the newspaper and thought I'd re-post it here. 

Congratulations to TEAM on its successful toy drive to benefit needy children in the Valley.



During 2012, TEAM’s Toys 4 Kids provided more than 3,000 toys for 1,486 children of 771 families, and. in addition. distributed more than 200 bicycles donated by the employees and customers of Neopost USA.

Individuals dropped off toy donations in collection boxes at 127 sites in a variety of businesses and municipal locations. Volunteers picked up toys and delivered them to our “toy store” on Main Street in Ansonia. Other volunteers set up the toy store, sorted the toys and organized them by age and gender.

In all, hundreds of volunteers and kind-hearted Valley residents throughout the Valley helped make Toys 4 Kids a success for underprivileged children.

Thank you to all who made the 2012 toy drive the best the Valley has experienced to date.

Editor’s note: This letter was signed by Richard J. Knoll, TEAM Inc.’s president and CEO; Stephane Skibo, board chairman; and, Diane Stroman, vice president of development. TEAM is located in Derby.