In Woodbury: Spread the Light Event Set for Month of June

Community Services Council of Woodbury volunteers (from left) Mark Vaghi, Jody Beresin, Alice Velky and Dennis Walsh display star lanterns and hand-painted gratitude stones that will be offered throughout June at the Woodbury Food Bank to all donors to the CSCW 13th annual "Spread the Light" fundraising appeal.

WOODBURY — The Community Services Council of Woodbury will mark the 13th anniversary of its annual "Spread the Light" fundraising campaign during June with an invitation to all who have sustained and strengthened its mission to join this year's appeal as "A Celebration of Gratitude and Compassion."

Throughout the month of June, donors who make a "Spread the Light" gift to the CSCW by mail, online or in person at the Woodbury Food Bank are invited to pick up both a star lantern and a gratitude stone as symbols of their shared partnership in the council's mission to assist Woodbury neighbors in need.

Donors also are asked to dedicate their gifts in memory or honor of family, friends and other special persons in their lives. In keeping with an annual tradition that began in 2011, these dedications will be represented by the approximately 200 star lanterns that CSCW volunteers will place on trees at Woodbury's five town greens along Main Street on Sunday, July 2. Each star lantern, displayed throughout the day and illuminated during the evening, will represent a dedication made through a donation to the "Spread the Light" campaign.

Proceeds from the "Spread the Light" appeal support the council's programs providing food, energy and crisis assistance to low-income households in Woodbury.

The CSCW is an independent nonprofit organization that relies on private donations and grants to support its operations, staffed by a robust team of volunteers who perform the diverse daily tasks required to maintain weekly client access to provisions from the Woodbury Food Bank.

CSCW President Bob Taylor observed that the inspiration to tap into food bank volunteers’ creativity to design and paint original gratitude stones to share with the community — each with a simple uplifting message such as "Love," "Hope," "Giving Thanks," "Compassion" and more — flows from the recognition that this year's "Spread the Light" appeal offers a unique opportunity to celebrate the community spirit that continues to burn bright.

"Our volunteers and friends bear witness every day to the countless ways in which we have all joined hands and hearts as a community to make it possible to fulfill our shared mission of compassion at the Community Services Council of Woodbury and the food bank," Mr. Taylor said.

"At a time when surging food and fuel prices have placed greater demand on our financial reserves to sustain our pantry and energy assistance programs, we have been reminded that our daily work rests securely on the broad shoulders of so many generous and caring souls."

Mr. Taylor noted that home gardeners in the community are invited to visit during food bank morning reception hours from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday to donate fresh produce throughout the growing season as part of the council's annual "Plant a Row" program.

"Our clients have benefited greatly from our home gardeners’ generosity in their produce donations in recent years," he said, "and we are very grateful to be able to share these gifts of the harvest with our neighbors in need."

Donors have the opportunity to pick up their gratitude stone and star lantern at the "Spread the Light" table outside the Woodbury Food Bank throughout June from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays and 8:30 to 11 a.m. Saturdays. The food bank, at 238 Main St. South, may be reached by taking the driveway on either side of the building housing LaBonne's Market and the Newtown Savings Bank Woodbury branch to the rear delivery lot. The reception table may be found outside the pantry on the basement level of the NSB branch.

Mr. Taylor expressed the hope that the community will embrace this year's theme of thanksgiving and compassion by displaying gratitude stones and star lanterns widely at their own homes.

"At a time when we all have so much to be thankful for, what a beautiful message we can send by letting our stars shine and creating our own gratitude stones," he said.

Donations may be made in person at the food bank or by mailing a check payable to "Community Services Council" to the CSCW, P.O. Box 585, Woodbury 06798.

The CSCW also offers the option to make "Spread the Light" donations through the PayPal portal available on the CSCW webpage on the town of Woodbury website at woodburyct.org, then using the "Community Links" tab to access the Community Services Council of Woodbury page on the town website.

Donors are invited to include memorial or honorary dedications to persons they wish to remember by submitting a written note of these names with their in-person or mail donations, or by including these names in the PayPal "Write a note" box.

Dedications also may be submitted to the attention of CSCW President Bob Taylor by email at [email protected].

In addition to remembrance as part of the July 2 "Spread the Light" display, these dedications will be written individually on paper stars that will be displayed at a public venue during July.

In the event that the weather forecast indicates a high probability of inclement weather for July 2, the star lantern display on town greens will be rescheduled to an alternate date in the first week of July.

Those seeking additional information about the "Spread the Light" celebration, may contact Mr. Taylor at [email protected] or leave a phone message at 203-263-3869.

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