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With the first month of the new year almost in the books, it seems like the right time to give out one, final applause for volunteer work done in the community in 2015.
And that’s the work being done by IMPACTrumbull, a local nonprofit who completes monthly community service projects and collections for existing nonprofits throughout Fairfield County.
Over the last 12 months, the group of volunteer families helped organize the Bridgeport Rescue Mission’s Donation Center and Food Pantry in September, planted a new sensory garden at Trumbull Nature and Arts Center in May, and cleaned up Indian Ledge Park in support of Trumbull Community Women’s Tidy Up Trumbull initiative in April.
And those highlights don’t even include the hard numbers behind IMPACT’s most successful year to date.
In 2015, the community helpers collected items for 1,070 Blessing Bags — travel-size hygiene kits that are donated to local homeless shelters — and assembled 92 Care Caddies, which are shower caddies filled with full-size hygiene items that get donated to domestic violence shelters and food pantries.
While the two hygiene packages were collected and donated throughout the year — February, June, August, and December, IMPACTrumbull were plenty busy elsewhere.
To kick off the year, they collected 3,700 books in January 2015 that were donated to Read to Grow.
A month later, the Connecticut National Guard troops serving overseas were the beneficiaries of IMPACTrumbull’s good work in the community as the families collected enough items to send eight care packages.
The work didn’t stop with books and care packages, however.
Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, in support of Brady’s Smile, received 90 fleece blankets in March which were sewn by IMPACT members.
In the summertime, the community-service driven organization turned its attention to food, assembling 400 lunches for Stamford school children in support of the non-profit Filling in the Blanks and donating 34 sweet cases to St. Vincent’s Special Needs School.
Meanwhile, the group helped collect school supplies that were used to fill 54 backpacks, which were given to Family Reentry in August before the first day of school.
As the weather turned cooler, IMPACTrumbull shifted its focus again, prepping 415 stockings that were filled with gifts in support of Hungry Kidzz in October and November.
Finally, as the holiday season rolled around in December, the group sponsored 15 families in support of Trumbull Social Services.
Mini golf fundraiser
IMPACTrumbull held its third-annual mini golf fundraiser at the Trumbull Library Monday, Jan. 18.
Over 400 attendees had fun playing 18 holes of mini golf that were sponsored by local businesses, such as Old Towne Restaurant and Croce Transmissions Specialists.
Attendees also bidded on silent auction items donated by local community members and businesses.
Proceeds from the event benefit the projects of IMPACTrumbull and the Trumbull Public Library. To learn more about IMPACTrumbull, go to www.impactrumbull.org