“This past year has been economically challenging for many town residents and, as a result, the Windsor Food & Fuel Bank has seen a surge in requests for assistance with food and utilities resources,” explains Ernest Perreault, President of the Windsor Food & Fuel Bank. “As a volunteer-based nonprofit organization, we are extremely grateful to the individuals and companies who work with us to help fellow Windsor residents, and this was especially critical during 2020. Our Board of Directors wants the entire community to know about these four extraordinary partners for their dedication, time, and effort. We look forward to honoring them at a special public event later this year, when we can safely host one.” Due to the increased demand for food and services, the Windsor Food & Fuel Bank has extended its 2020 Annual Appeal fundraiser through March 2021. Go to www.windsorfoodbank to donate or for information.Meet the Windsor Food & Fuel Bank’s “Volunteers of the Year” for 2020: . Sue Ellen Hewitt has been a volunteer for Windsor Food & Fuel Bank programs since 2011, working in its food bank, with Groceries to Go distributions, and as a Mobile Foodshare volunteer– in all types of weather! She has volunteered with the Weekend Wheels program since it began nine years ago, doing weekly distributions to students, food pickups and she leads volunteers with bi-weekly snack bag assembly. When the active member of the Windsor Hunger Action team finds a good sale at a local food vendor, she often will buy in bulk and donate it herself. In addition, as a Windsor Women’s Club member, she has donated food at their monthly meeting collections for years and has arranged for that organization to help with food collections. Last March, COVID-19 limited her on-site volunteering for a period of time, and Sue Ellen instead focused her efforts on making facemasks for the Windsor Social Services and WF&FB staff and volunteers still at work, so they can safely continue their in-person service, helping Windsor residents in need. · Super Stop & Shop of Windsor on 1095 Kennedy Road has been a valued Windsor Food & Fuel Bank supporter for more than a decade. The store features a four-foot-tall WF&FB food collection box, conveniently located next to the exit doors, and donates baked goods on a regular basis. The WF&FB is a recipient of the store’s Food4Friends fundraisers, and Stop & Shop’s parent company makes annual corporate contributions to the Windsor organization. In addition, the WF&FB holds in-store collection drives once every month and scout troops, ROTC students and others help on site in a true community effort. Note: while this project has not been held during COVID, it will resume when it is safe to do so. · TLD USA – Early in 2020, TLD USA employees and leaders stood on its factory floor on Bloomfield Avenue in Windsor to present a check for $11,010 Windsor Food & Fuel Bank. It was the WF&FB’s largest single contribution from a company since the nonprofit organization’s establishment in 1967! That donation was the total of employee collections with company matches at this industrial group that specializes in Aviation Ground Support Equipment (GSE). Months later, TLD wrapped up the year with yet another generous act. Many of the employees donated holiday gift cards that were presented to them by the company to the Windsor Food & Fuel Bank, and TLD management added more funds to total $2,500. The partnership between the company and the WF&FB will continue in the years ahead. · Scott Hoffman, owner of Windsor Ace Hardware – For the past few years, Windsor Ace Hardware’s owner Scott Hoffman and his employees at the 296 Broad St. store have held successful Fall fundraisers for the Windsor Food & Fuel Bank that offer donors of $5 or more a shopping discount in the store that day on anything they can fit in a complimentary 5-gallon bucket. Staffed by WF&FB volunteers, that event has generated up to $2,000 in just four hours! In addition, during the early months of the Coronavirus, Windsor Ace Hardware produced and sold scores of “Thank You” lawn signs to recognize front-line workers, and then donated all the proceeds to the Windsor Food & Fuel Bank. Add to that, store donations of toilet paper and hard to obtain items in 2020. The Windsor Food & Fuel Bank is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was founded in 1967 as the Windsor Community Service Council (WCSC). The all-volunteer Board, along with our partners at Windsor Social Services, works to accomplish our Mission of ensuring that no Windsor resident goes hungry, is cold, or is without basic necessities. The generosity of local individuals, businesses, civic and religious organizations provides for 95 percent of the WF&FB’s annual operating budget. If you are a Windsor resident and not a current client of the Windsor Food & Fuel Bank but find yourself in need of food assistance, call the Windsor Social Services office at 860-285-1839, Mondays through Fridays. Information is also available at www.townofwindsorct.com/social-services and at www.windsorfoodbank.org. |
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