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ForwardCT conducting drive for diapers, feminine hygiene products

By Ted Glanzer

Staff Writer


The grassroots organization ForwardCT is conducting a diaper and feminine hygiene drive through the month of February.

The group, which was established after the 2016 election by Avon residents Carrie Firestone and Eleni Kavros DeGraw, is composed of volunteers from the Greater Hartford area and partners with local nonprofits and schools in tackling various projects based on need.

The organization has four pillars: connect, inform, serve, lead.

For example, following Hurricane Maria in 2017, the Greater Hartford area saw an influx of Puerto Rican families. ForwardCT’s volunteers collected and distributed furniture to the apartments where those families had relocated in and around Hartford.

This year, during the group’s holiday drive, Firestone said there were repeated requests for diapers and feminine hygiene products. So ForwardCT has put out the call for the following products: diapers (any size, including pull-ups and adult diapers), wipes, and feminine hygiene products (any kind).

People can drop off those products at any of the following locations in the Farmington Valley: 36 Cambridge Crossing, Avon, 06001 (use this address if you are sending via Amazon); 14 Thatcher Terrace, Farmington; 191 Reverknolls, Avon; 8 Cricket Lane, Simsbury; 363 Mountainside West, Farmington; 2 Old Barge Road, Simsbury; 39 Kingsbridge, Avon; 22 Basswood Road, Farmington; 12 Riverside Road, Simsbury

Anyone with questions may contact Firestone at 860-539-7123.

“What happened during holiday season, families were asking for pull-ups for children, some of which had kids with autism,” Firestone said. “Families were asking for pull ups as their wish gifts - they were asking for blankets and sheets for wish gifts.”

Diapers, Firestone said, are expensive and are needed every day. She said there are families that take a soiled diaper, wipe it out as best they can, and reuse it.

Similarly, feminine hygiene products are absolute necessities, but can be expensive. Firestone said she’s hate to have a girl miss a week of school because she didn’t have the necessary feminine hygiene products because of a basic biological function.

“I know families that have no money – they get food from Foodshare – but they don’t have access to an extra $20 a month for feminine hygiene. These are things in society that hold us back.”

The collection is through Feb. 28 and will be distributed through nonprofit partners and schools, Firestone said.

“We are currently discussing the possibility of establishing diaper banks at a school and a nonprofit thrift shop (if we collect enough),” she wrote in a statement. “We will also drop items on doorsteps of people our contacts identify. (Many families are in sensitive situations and we will respect confidentiality).

“Our work requires much flexibility, willingness to understand crises are fluid, and trust in our donors and service network.”

The diaper drive is but one of dozens of projects and collections the group has done in the past four years. The needs never go away, and sometimes can be crushing, not unlike trying to drink from a firehose.

But Firestone doesn’t despair, instead choosing to break down the needs into digestible bites that volunteers can help.

“Some people get paralyzed because there’s too much need,” she said. “We break it into projects so we make it doable for everybody. I have recipients who say ‘I want to help too.’ That’s heartbreaking. Here you have nothing and you want to help, too, and that says something. … My hope is that people will donate generously to people’s doorsteps and these items will go to where they’re needed most. That’s our forward commitment.”

For more information on ForwardCT, contact Firestone or visit facebook.com/forwardconnecticut.



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Valley Happenings

Fighting Cancer Pasta Dinner:

Benefit for Avon Volunteer Fire Department

Deputy Chief Dave Theriault

Saturday, February 22, 2025, 3:00-7:00 p.m. 

Avon Senior Center, 635 West Avon Road, Avon

AVFD Deputy Chief of Administration Dave Theriault is facing a tough battle against Stage 4 cancer. The AVFD, along with Tunxis Hose Co. No. 1 and the Farmington Fire Department, is holding a pasta dinner to help raise money for Chief Theriault’s medical expenses. In addition to delicious food, drinks, and camaraderie, the event will feature dozens of raffle prizes. Event tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for seniors and children under 10 years old. They can be purchased at the door or in advance at AVFD Headquarters, 25 Darling Drive, Avon (Mondays, 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. and Tuesdays-Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.). Contributions can be made via Venmo @supportDave or by mail to the AVFD at 25 Darling Drive, Avon, CT 06001. 

Canton Community Health Fund Applications

Canton Community Health Fund, Inc. Opens 2025 Application Season, on March 1, 2025, for Canton Community Partner Grants & Canton Scholars Pursuing Careers in Healthcare or Public Safety Canton Community Health Fund, Inc. (CCHF), opens its grant and scholarship application season March 1. CCHF encourages State of CT certified non-profits serving the Canton community to apply for Community Partner grants. In addition, graduating high school seniors seeking higher education in healthcare or public safety are invited to apply for either a Dr. Diters Legacy Scholarship or a Pay It Forward Scholarship. Applications and informative Fact Sheets are available online at www.cantoncommunityhealthfund.org.  Community Partner Grant and Scholarship awards will be announced in June/2025.

 

Avon Library events

AVON –The following events are scheduled at Avon Free Public Library. The library is at Avon Library, 281 Country Club Road, Avon. All programs are in person except where noted. For more information on adult programs, contact Adult Services Reference Desk via avonref@avonctlibrary.info 860-673-9712 x 7203

• Antique Map Collecting 101, Saturday, Feb. 1 at 1 p.m. Registration is required: https://www.avonctlibrary.info/event/antique-map-collecting/

• Morning Book Club. Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 10:30 a.m., The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose, Registration is required: https://www.avonctlibrary.info/events/tag/morning-book-club/

• Meditation for Balance and Inner Contentment. (Virtual Event) Thursday, Feb. 6 at 7 pm.

• Eastern Coyotes in Connecticut (Virtual Event) Thursday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m.

• Fashion and the First Lady (Virtual Event). Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 2 p.m.

• Hoop Skirts to Flappers: Eighty Years of Connecticut Fashion. Monday, Feb. 24 at 2 p.m.

• The Golden Age of Hollywood. (Virtual Event) Tuesday, March 4 at 2 pm.

 

Simsbury Lions Club

The Simsbury Lions Club is looking for people interested in volunteering and contributing to better our town. Our motto is “We serve,” and we do so by volunteering at local events and donating our proceeds to serving interests in our community.

If interested, please feel free to contact Sandy Kremer at Tprkremer@gmail.com or Philip Painchaud at painchaudp@gmail.com.”

 

Winter sowing workshop

The Farmington Land trust is hosting a winter sowing workshop focused on raising native plants. Make your own up-cycled greenhouse from a milk jug and prep some beneficial native plants for the coming growing season. Sunday, Feb 2 from 11a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Farmington Senior Center. RSVP here: https://www.farmingtonlandtrust.org/event-details/winter-sowing-seminar-native-seed-planting

 

Wild Flowers from Spring to Fall

CANTON – The Cherry Brook Garden Club is hosting a lecture on “Following Our Wild Flowers from Spring to Fall” on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 11 a.m. at the Canton Community Center, lower level, 40 Dyer Avenue. Steve Messier, Lichenologist and former Science teacher at Canton High School will discuss the topic. The lecture is open to the public. There is a $5 guest fee for non-members. Email questions to cherrybrookgardenclub@gmail.com.

 

‘Five Wishes’ at McLean

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To register, visit McLeanCare.org/Events, email Margaret.Clark@McLeanCare.org, or call 860-658-3718.

 

‘Art Throb!’ Exhibit

Gallery on the Green presents “Art Throb!” Exhibit plus a Solo Exhibit by Kathi Packer Friday, Feb. 14 through Saturday, March 15. An opening reception is on Saturday, Feb. 15 from 6-8 p.m. and will include refreshments. The show and reception are free.

“Art Throb!” is a heartfelt Valentine’s Day celebration presented by the membership of Canton Artists’ Guild. The artists use a wide range of media including painting, prints, drawing, photography, sculpture, ceramics and mixed media to represent the emotional intensity, joy and complexity of love.

In the upstairs Gallery, Kathi Packer has a solo show, “Another Tale.”  Packer notes that a friend’s casual invitation to go on safari in 2008 substantially changed the direction of her artistic journey.The gallery is located near the intersection of Dowd Avenue and Route 44 at 5 Canton Green Road in Canton. Hours are Friday – Sunday, 1-5 pm. The main floor gallery is handicapped accessible.

Website: http://www.galleryonthegreen.org; Phone:  860-693-4102

 

TABLESCAPES fundraiser returns to benefit the new

Avon History Museum

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This event will feature themed table settings from local professional designers, florists, businesses, individuals, artists and others featuring fresh floral arrangements, centerpieces and accessories. Proceeds will benefit the installation of professionally curated exhibits in the new Avon History Museum scheduled to open on Friday, July 4, 2025.

Back by popular demand will be a “Table and Barware Tag Sale” on both days. Admission to TABLESCAPES includes the tag sale. Tickets are $20 each pre-sale and at the door. Tickets can be purchased online at www.avonhistoricalsociety.org or by calling Mary Harrop at 860-670-3225 before March 8.

Those interested in sponsorship opportunities can also call Harrop.

 

Alzheimer’s Support Group

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Used book sale

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Thousands of books will be organized in separate sections, including Fiction, History, Biography, Politics, Children, Music, Cooking, Sports, Art, Vintage, and more!  A large selection of Children’s books will be available.  Fiction books will be divided by hardcover, paperback, and trade paperback and sorted alphabetically by author.  DVDs, CDs, books on CDs, Vinyl records, and puzzles will be available, also.  Most books will be $3 or less with vintage and specialty books priced higher.

 

Daisy Days: All-Girls Summer Day Camp Experience

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For additional details, visit pcgl.porters.org/daisy-days.

 

Artist demonstration

Avon Arts Association will hold a guest artist demonstration featuring  Granby artist Laura Eden on Tuesday, February 18 at  Avon Town Hall, 60 W. Main St., lower level, at 6:30 p.m. Ms. Eden will demonstrate egg tempera painting.

The demo is free and open to the public ($5 suggested donation). A workshop with Ms. Eden will be held at the same location in the Avon Room on Saturday, Feb. 22, 10-2 with  set up at 9:30. Fee: $45 for members, $55 for nonmembers). www.AvonArts.org

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