When it comes to children in need, the Valley always comes through!
For an eighth year in a row, the Annual Book Bag & School Supply drive has been a great success. Over 100 book bags and an abundance of back to school supplies were collected this year.
This drive, originally started by the owners of Luther’s Garage, which is now closed, continues on an annual basis through J Cuts located at 505 Howe Ave., downtown Shelton.
Each year beginning July 1, J Cuts is 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,” said Jennifer Sneider, owner of J Cuts. “So many people stop by to drop off donations. Many of my customers do not hesitate to hand me five or ten 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 located at 427B Howe Ave., Shelton donated collection posters again this year.
For the third year in a row, the Shelton Community Lion’s Club, collected during the weekly summer concerts on the Huntington green. As a result, they were able to contribute greatly to the drive.
The Shelton Community Lion’s 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., located at 1931 Blackrock Turnpike, Fairfield, held their own collection. A bunch of supplies were dropped off at J Cuts.
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.
According to Romaniuk, “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. 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 1900 dental providers available.
Children receiving donations from this community drive are serviced by T.E.A.M., Inc.in Derby, along with the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Shelton School Readiness Program and the Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Resource Center, all in Shelton, and BHcare in Ansonia.
The oral kits were given to all 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.
J Cuts will be the main collection location beginning Jan. 1, 2015 for the 9th 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 service children in great need.
Any individual, group, business or organization is welcome to join in the Annual Monkey Love Valentine Drive by holding their own collection.
Call Jennifer Sneider at 203 – 924-4107 with questions or for more information.
