Spooner House will be the beneficiary of two heart-warming events on Saturday, Feb. 16 and Sunday, Feb. 17.
Spooner House is a shelter for people without homes. It is one of the few homeless shelters in the area that provide housing for families with children, along with individuals.
As always, food stocks are depleted during any storm, but the Blizzard of 2013 made the situation that much worse, as Spooner House staff made urgent distributions.
Both events will be held regardless of weather:
The 11th Annual Valley Has A Heart food collection will be held on Saturday, Feb. 16 at three Stop & Shop stores in the lower Naugatuck Valley — Ansonia, Seymour and Shelton.
Stop & Shop is the marquee sponsor for this year’s Valley Has A Heart drives. The goal is to gather enough non-perishable food to last for at least two months and $3,000 in cash to be used for restocking the shelves at Spooner House.
The collections will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at each location. A list of the most needed items is included at the end of this release.
The Stop & Shop stores are at 100 Division St. in Ansonia, 15 Franklin St. in Seymour and 898 Bridgeport Ave. in Shelton.
On Sunday, Feb. 17 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. the Mary A. Schmecker Turtle Shell Fund is hosting a chocolate lover’s paradise, “In Love and Chocolate,” with proceeds being split between Spooner House and the Turtle Shell Fund.
The Mary A. Schmecker Turtle Shell Fund is a federally recognized 501©(3) public charity which seeks to promote the education of young people in art, music, theater, skilled craft and other creative pursuits.
For $25 per person, 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.
Among the more than 20 exhibitors serving up sweet samples this year are Crave (Ansonia), Royal Bakery (Shelton), Pink Cupcake Shack (Shelton), Burnt Bakery (Seymour), Chocolate Pizza Kitchen (Shelton), Stone Gardens (Shelton) and Starbucks (Shelton).
“In Love and Chocolate” will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott, 780 Bridgeport Ave. in Shelton.
Those unable to visit one of the three Stop & Shop stores on Feb. 16 are still encouraged to make a donation. Please make checks payable and mailed to: Area Congregations Together, Inc., Spooner House, 30 Todd Road, Shelton CT 06484.
Donations may also be made via PayPal by clicking on the “Donate button” at www.actspooner.org.
Spooner House is in need of the following non-perishable items:
- Juices/Powdered Drink Mix
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Soups
- Rice
- Stews
- Canned/Instant Potatoes
- Canned Chili
- Coffee/Tea
- Tuna
- Corned Beef Hash
- Canned Fruit
- Canned Chicken/Meat/Spam
- Peanut Butter and Jelly
- Canned Vegetables
- Cereal & Oatmeal
- Beans
- Pastas and Sauces