Between now and February 10th, Luther’s Garage in downtown Shelton will be collecting stuffed monkeys for the children of the Family and Children’s Aid/Shelton Safe Home and other area organizations who assist needy children, as well as children of soldiers currently deployed.
The Shelton Safe Home is a safe haven for abused and neglected children, up to age twelve, while more permanent living arrangements are being made.
Monkeys can be dropped off at Luther’s Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. Other locations for drop off include Webster Bank, 502 Howe Avenue, the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce office, 900 Bridgeport Avenue and Minuteman Press, 524 Howe Avenue, all of Shelton. An additional drop off location is Beardsley Zoo, 1875 Noble Avenue in Bridgeport.
Gift cards to local stores such as Wal-Mart, Target, Walgreens, CVS and Toys R Us will also be accepted.
Last year, 2,387 stuffed monkeys were collected. A good portion of the donations came from Future Industries of Milford and the Shelton Exchange Club. Target of Ansonia also donated a gift card.
Monkeys were divided up and distributed to various non-profit organizations in the Valley and surrounding areas.
These groups included Casey Family Services of Bridgeport (www.caseyfamilyservices.org), the Valley YMCA of Ansonia, Covenant to Care for Children in the New Haven area (www.covenanttocare.org), Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley (www.bgc-lnv.org), Area Congregations Together, Inc./Spooner House (www.act-spooner.org) and TEAM, Inc. (www.teaminc.org), both of Derby, the Valley YMCA and Birmingham Group Health Services of Ansonia and Family and Children’s Aid/Shelton and Danbury Safe Homes (www.fcaweb.org).
In addition, 500 stuffed monkeys were given to Griffin Hospital and 500 to Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital.
Monkeys were also packaged and shipped to the Girard family from Voluntown, Connecticut who was featured on Extreme Home Makeover in the beginning of February, 2009. A specific stuffed monkey was picked out for each child and their Mom.
In addition to donating stuffed monkeys to abused, neglected and needy children, Luther’s will again donate monkeys to area children and young siblings of National Guard soldiers currently deployed. At this time, there are approximately 1,200 Connecticut National Guard service members deployed.
Luther’s is hoping for another successful and fun Monkey Love Drive. Their goal is a collection of at least 1,500 stuffed monkeys. Area businesses, groups and individuals are invited to participate by coordinating and holding their own collections. All stuffed monkeys will need to be dropped off to Luther’s Garage no later than February 10th.
Last year, Beardsley Zoo of Bridgeport, Splash Car Wash and Lifecare, Inc. of Shelton, along with Pilgrim Bar-B-Que of Ansonia held stuffed monkey collections.
The group that collects the most monkeys this year will win a pizza party. Last year, the Learning Studio Inc. of Derby, won by collecting over 120 stuffed monkeys.
Monkeys were also donated by area residents, Luther’s customers, the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce Women In Networking group and other members, along with Keith Urban’s National Fan Club “Monkeyville.” Dana Palermo’s then Sixth Grade Cadette Troop 60826, from Long Hill School in Shelton, who are now in 7th grade at Shelton’s Intermediate School, held an inter-generational craft project with the residents of Wesley Heights at Wesley Village in Shelton to produce over 40 pillows decorated with monkeys.
Tauton Press of Newtown engaged their employees in a craft project to create handmade “sock monkeys.” Plush monkeys were also received in the mail from as far as Clinton and a former Connecticut resident who now lives in Florida.
All of the children who received stuffed monkeys last year were more than excited to have a new and adorable stuffed animal to call their own.
An instant smile grew on each child’s face as he or she picked a favorite monkey from the bunch. Some children gave their stuffed monkey to a loved one as a Valentine gift. Others kept their monkey to cherish.
For more information regarding the Shelton Safe Home or to make a donation of any kind, feel free to contact Coretta Owen, Program Director, 203 – 240-5514 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
For more information regarding upcoming charity events coordinated by Luther’s Garage, or to download an Annual Community Drive Calendar, visit the Community tab at www.luthersgarage.biz or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
