The Valley United Way’s Corporate Volunteer Council (“CVC”) is excited to announce its plans to build Harvest House III on the grounds of Shelton’s Riverwalk on Saturday, Sept. 26, as their 2009 Week of Caring Project.
Similar to previous Harvest Houses built by the council in 2005 and 2007, Harvest House III will be a 400-square-foot house constructed from more than 100,000 donated non-perishable food items.
The project is a way to raise awareness of the large number of hungry in our community and to encourage food donations to the Valley United Way agencies that strive to feed them.
The CVC invites Valley businesses, civic organizations, schools, church groups, and the community at large to join the effort by running food drives in their organizations and bringing the food to the Shelton Riverwalk on Saturday, Sept. 26 to fill the walls of Harvest House.
The food that is collected will be distributed to the needy through the following agencies:
Area Congregations Together/Spooner House
Father McKenna St. Vincent DePaul Society
Valley YMCA
The Umbrella Program of Birmingham Group Health Services The Salvation Army
The Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross
The Parent-Child Resource Center The Safe Home
“I am confident that the Valley community will once again reach out by donating food and joining hands to ‘build’ this one-of-a-kind Harvest House,” said Patricia Tarasovic, Director of the Valley United Way’s Volunteer Center. “Many people are struggling to feed their families and it’s important to help our neighbors in need. The Valley has proven time and again that we are an All American City and Harvest House is another example of how we LIVE UNITED.”
This year’s Harvest House project will have an exciting addition, thanks to a partnership with Echo Hose Ambulance Service of Shelton.
Echo Hose will celebrate their 60th anniversary with a Community Picnic to be held at the Riverwalk on the same day that Harvest House will be constructed.
The free family event will include food, a “Touch an Ambulance” exhibit, and a concert by the Highland Rovers Irish Band. The community is invited to bring non-perishable food items for Harvest House and then enjoy the picnic and concert sponsored by Echo Hose Ambulance.
“We are very excited about our 60th anniversary serving Shelton,” said Joseph Laucella, Assistant Chief for Echo Hose Ambulance, “and it is fitting that we celebrate with a great organization like the United Way and the Harvest House project. Echo Hose Ambulance and the Valley United Way are dedicated to serving our community, and this event is one not to be missed. Please come enjoy a free family event and help us support Harvest House by bringing a non perishable food item.”
About the Corporate Volunteer Council
The Corporate Volunteer Council of the Valley United Way is a coalition of more than fifty corporations – large and small – who believe in giving back to the communities where they do business.
For more information on Harvest House III or Valley United Way’s Corporate Volunteer Council, please contact Pat Tarasovic, Director, Volunteer Center at (203) 926‑9478 or visit their website at www.valleyunitedway.org/VAC
