Winter Storms Don't Hold Back Southington's Spirit of Charity

The 2015 Relay for Life opens at 4:00 pm on Friday, May 29th, continuing for 24 hours, closing on Saturday, May 30^th. “We celebrate as a community, remembering and fighting back together against cancer.” said Relay for Life Chair Joyce McAloon, “Our efforts to find a cure for Cancer have been strong. We have raised over $1 million for the American Cancer Society’s research work in our previous fifteen campaigns.” Cancer affects so many families. Few escape the dreaded visit among those close to them. McAloon thanked the Survivors, Caregivers, RFL Committee, Teams, and Community for the successful 2014 campaign which raised over $147,000 to fight Cancer. Be a part of the fight against Cancer by joining a team as a volunteer and with your financial gift to any of the teams.  For information, contact Joyce McAloon at (860-276-0255 or joycemac24@cox.net).

The STEPS Youth Council steps us. A few months ago, three young members of the STEPS Youth Council announced that they had decided to file an application to start a STEPS Relay for Life Team. The three, Trever Rogers, Sarah Lamb and Justine Griffin Southington H.S. students who also serve on the Advisory Board of STEPS representing its town wide coalition. The three and many others on the Youth Council or Youth committee dedicate their energies to the STEPS movement year round. A significant example of their work is having brought two successful new ordinance ideas to the Southington Town Council in 2014, requiring retailers to move any tobacco delivery products from the view and reach of youth. The other ordinance requires a sign at local Happy Hours stating that no alcohol is served without proof of age.  To join the STEPS Youth Council's Relay for Life team or to help them with your donation to fight cancer, contact Trever Rogers at tre14@cox.net or Sarah Lamb at sarahelizabeth4914@gmail.com 

Jean’s Angels Fighting Against Cancer is another Relay for Life Team in the battle against cancer. Jean Rose is a cancer survivor and long-time team coordinator the Jean's Angels who have organized Make Wednesdays at Wendy’s every Wednesday in March and April from 4 to 8 pm at the 328 Queen Street location. A portion of every sale will be donated to the American Cancer Society for Relay for Life. To help this team, please contact Jean via email at JeansRelayAngels@aol.com. “It takes many in this town to accomplish what we have done.”, said Rosemary Champagne, a cancer survivor and veteran leader in the cause.  

Still another Relay team at work is the Southington Knights of Columbus Isabella Council 15. Grand Knight Paul Sirois, Deputy Grand Knight Bill Shatas and Past G.K. Dennis Kelly recently presented a check for $500.00 to Relay for Life to McAloon.  Sirois, who resides in nearby Cheshire, noted that organiz@aol.comations such as the Knights and others help the community in so many ways. For example, the Knights also presented checks of $500.00 each to Eldon Hafford, Executive Director of Bread for Life; to Janet Mellon, Director of Southington Services; and to the Fisher House in West Haven to temporarily house families of wounded warriors so they may be close to their service person receiving care in the VA hospital.  Shatas said, “The Southington Knights also raised over $6,100 last fall in its Tootsie Roll Drive. The Knight thank the generosity of so many people of Southington who support this fund raiser with the help of Walmart, Stop & Shop, Tops Market and participating parishioners of Immaculate Conception, Mary Our Queen, St. Aloysius, St. Dominic and St. Thomas Churches who help with their large and small donations at their church doors." The funds raised in the Tootsie Roll Campaign will be donated to the Southington High School Best Buddies, SHS Unified Sports, SHS Unified Theater, Connecticut Special Olympics, Columbiettes Campership Fund and the St. Coletta Center, providing religious education to those with intellectual disabilities.

Recent photos of donations presented. 

Dennis Kelly, Faithful Navigator of the Southington Knights of Columbus presents donation to Tom Flowers of the Fisher House Foundation with SK Phil Mazzotti at the American Legion Kiltonic Post 72 Hall in Southington. 

On the right, Dennis Kelly(l to r) Paul Sirois and Bill Shatas of the Southington Knights of Columbus present a check to Relay for Life Chairperson, Joyce McAloon. 

At left, Paul Sirois, Benny Cammuso and Dennis Kelly of the Southington Knights of Columbus present a check for $500.00 to Eldon Hafford, Executive Director of Bread for Life.

                                                 

Grand Knight, Paul Sirois of the Southington Knights of Columbus presents a check of $500.00 to Janet Mellon, Director of Souhtington Community Services with Bill Shatas, Deputy Grand Knight and Ralph Nardi of the K of C and a volunteer at the Southington Community Services and Food Pantry.