(l-r) Mystic VFW Post #3263 members, Eric Kleeman, Peggy Roberts, Mike Foley, president, Men’s Auxilary, Kathe Lewis,Ed Nichols and Terry Gillis along with the rest of the VFW, Men’s Auxilary and regular partrons raised $1185.00 for SERVE which sends hundreds of care packgages monthly to our soldiers in Afghanistan.
It all started one night a few weeks ago at the VFW,” Peggy Roberts tells me. “First a five dollar bill is tossed at me and then another five dollars was handed to me. From then, on the donations come flooding in until $185.00 is collected from our patrons.”
“It really starts with Eric Kleeman, who walks up to me holding the empty collection box for the men and women serving in Afghanistan. ‘Hey,’ says Eric. ‘This box is empty. We ought to do something to fill it.’ Then Ed Nichols tosses me the first five dollar bill. Next thing I know, more bills are handed to me. That was the start.”
The organization SERVE stations collection boxes in several sites in the area for our troops overseas. At the Mystic VFW one of the boxes is pink.
“That’s important,” Peggy tells me. “Not too many people remember the women soldiers. They are so grateful for the feminine articles we send and they write letters to thank us.”
Bill Kitchens is the Commander of the Mystic VFW Post #3263 where $500.00 was collected by the Men’s Auxiliary and another $500.00 from the members of the VFW. Altogether $1185.00 was donated by the VFW. It was now time to go shopping, and shopping they did!
“Donna Foley and her daughter, Melissa, come with me, along with Terry Gillis and Kathe Lewis, all from the VFW,” Peggy explains. “We march into Ocean State Job Lot and spend hours buying the essential hygiene items for both men and women soldiers. Into the carts go toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand creams, hand lotions, personal feminine items, shavers, deodorants, shaving cream, powders, Chapstick, shampoo, hair conditioners, razors, soap; everything you can think of. We even buy baby wipes.”
“My son, Chet, just got back form overseas,” says Terry. “He says to me, ‘Mom, don’t forget the baby wipes. They really need them over there where it is so hot and dry. There is so little water. The baby wipes help to keep them wet.’”
Mike Foley, president, Mystic VFW Post #3263 Men’s Auxiliary, and a group of other members rounded up all the donated items and took them over to the UPS Store in Westerly where Tony Montalbano, vice president, SERVE, and his helpers package, wrap and ship the products to Afghanistan. It is a big work project. It could never be done alone. It takes lots of help.
Bill Grunow is one of the two directors for SERVE. He tells me the details. “We have collection boxes at Mystic VFW, UPS Store Westerly, McQuade’s Hardware, McQuade’s Market in Mystic, Dime Bank, Eagle’s Nest, Ed Jones Investment and the Cooked Goose; all in Westerly. The personal hygiene products are best bought in the small traveling sizes. The soldiers also really need some unrefrigerated small food items such as ring top cans, such as: Chef Boyardee, powdered Kool Aid, Slim Jims, beef jerky and small cracker packages.”
“For money donations we have coin boxes stationed at UPS Store in Westerly, Cooked Goose, Westerly, Bogues Alley, Pawcatuck, Children’s Market, Pawcatuck, Grandpa Tom’s Deli, Pawcatuck, and Legends in Hope Valley.”
For information about how to donate and about SERVE planning meetings, call Tony at 401.322.5060. For information about upcoming baked goods collection for our troops call VFW Mystic 860.536.3682. Ask for Peggy.
(l-r) Naval Submarine Base New London’s Child Development Center officially opens the newly rennovated Building 383 as Captain Marc W. Denno, Subase Commanding Officer, Commander Daniel Rossler, Subase Executive Officer, Marilyn Deshields, Program Supervisor, Child Development Center, Bob Kydd, Director, Subase Morale, Welfare, and Recreation, Subase Command Master Chief Ray Powell and Cathy Terrall, Director, Child and Youth Program, cut the ribbon with help from some of the CDC’s students.
Naval Submarine Base New London held a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new building in its Child Development Center (CDC) on Monday, August 30.
The Subase Child Development Center provides a safe, nurturing and caring environment to promote the healthy growth and development of more than 150 military community children. The totally rennovated, now state-of-the-art Building 383 facility will allow 86 more children, ages 6 weeks to 5 years, from the military community to benefit from the Center’s commitment and services. Captain Mark Denno, Commanding Officer, Subase, said that this will “hopefully eliminate the current CDC waiting list.”
“The Child Development Center is committed to positively impacting Subase’s fleet, fighters and families through the best child care we can deliver,” said Janet Anderson, director, CDC. “It is an honor for us to do so, as the members of our military community serve and sacrifice in support and defense of our great Navy and nation.”
The transformation of Building 383 is just a part of the many dynamic undertakings to improve Subase New London’s infrastructure in support of the Groton Chapter of the Navy’s Shore Vision 2035 Plan.
Gloria Priam, owner, Priam Vineyards, Colchester, poses with Darren Kramer, news anchor, WTNH News 8, New Haven, at the 2010 Bike MS: Cardio Express Ride held Saturday, Aug. 28, at the vineyard. Priam Vineyards, featuring 24 acres of grape vines, recently became the first winery in New England to be solar-powered. Darren, whose mother-in-law lives with MS, not only served as grand marshal of the ride but also saddled up to ride 25 miles. To date, he has raised $345 toward his $500 goal.
Lyme residents Kathy and Jeff Rowe relax with a glass of wine after pedaling 75 miles at 2010 Bike MS: Cardio Express Ride at Priam Vineyards in Colchester Saturday, Aug. 28. The pair, who cycle on Team Backus Hospital, each rode 150 miles over the course of two days and to date, Kathy has raised $1,300 toward her $2,000 goal and Jeff has raised $1,000, surpassing his original goal of $800. Team Backus Hospital, captained by Kathy, has raised $3,300 toward a $5,000 goal. The two-day cycling event, hosted by the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter Saturday, Aug. 28, and Sunday, Aug. 29, attracted more than 200 cyclists and is expected to raise about $200,000 to benefit people living with multiple sclerosis. Fundraising for Bike MS continues through Saturday, Sept. 25. To sponsor Jeff, Kathy or Team Backus Hospital go to www.ctfightsms.org and click on Bike MS: Cardio Express Ride.
A $5,000 award from the Dime Bank Foundation will help to make certain that families or individuals in crisis will have their basic needs met. The Emergency Basic Needs and Case Management Program sponsored by Catholic Charities, Diocese of Norwich provides services to individuals and families in need of food, shelter, clothing, utility assistance, transportation, medications, information and referral. Clients are assisted with immediate needs, as well as, with developing a plan of self sufficiency for the future.
Marek Kukulka, Executive Director, Catholic Charities states, “The community at large benefits when its citizens are able to meet their basic needs and avoid situations where even further intervention may be required. The support we have received from Dime Bank Foundation for this program will help families to parent better when they are not living in constant fear of where the next meal may come from, or how to keep the electricity or oil on for their heating and cooking.”
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Norwich provides a wide array of social services to the residents of New London County, Middlesex County, Windham County, Tolland County, and Fishers Island, NY. Catholic Charities has had a presence in the area since 1921, making it one of the oldest social service agencies in the region. The agency has been providing social services in the areas of basic human needs, adoption, mental health, family life education, teen mentoring and pregnancy services. To learn more about this organization visit them at www.ccfsn.org.
