Kiwanis Take on Charitable Causes in Middletown

**Please notice updates to facts, as dates have been amended and clarification as far as proceeds have been corrected, 11/11/01:


The "Warm the Children" annual campaign is well underway for the local Middletown Kiwanis Club.

Kiwanis of Middletown is a co-sponsor of the Warm the Children Program. Kiwanis is providing $80.00 worth of new clothing and boots for about 700 needy children this year. Their goal, along with the Middletown Press is to raise $56,000. Last year the group raised $62,000 through donations. Every single dollar raised is used to purchase the clothing for the children, as there are no over head costs. Staff from Middletown, Portland, East Hampton, Durham/Middlefield and Cromwell Public Schools plus Middletown’s Salvation Army, HeadStart, EvenStart and Middlesex Hospital’s Family Advocacy Program identify families with needy children. Volunteer shoppers meet the families at Wal-Mart in Cromwell and assist them in selecting new clothing and footwear for their children. Each child is allocated $80. No money changes hands; Wal-Mart bills " Warm the Children" program for all purchases. If you are able to donate please fill out the form attached and send a check to the Middletown Kiwanis : Warm the Children Fund at the address listed on the form.

During the holiday season, Kiwanis members donate their time as bell ringers for the local Salvation Army. All money collected during bell ringing goes to the Salvation Army.

The Kiwanis will be out front of Stop and Shop in Middletown this Saturday , November 13 from 9am-4pm . Kiwanis members will be on hand to hand out bagged peants in exchange for donations. This fundraiser is held every year to raise money to support all of the Kiwanis charitable programs held through out the year such as the bicycle safety fair, our scholarship program and to provide financial support to various charitable organizations around Middletown (I have a Friend Youth Center, MARC, and numerous others).

For Thankgiving, Kiwanis is participating in the Salvation Army's annual Thanksgiving Basket campaign. Each donated basket collected must have a 10 lb frozen turkey and enough food to feed a needy family of four on Thanksgiving day.
Last year the Kiwanis pledged over 30 baskets to the Salvation Army.

The deadline for drop off at the Salvation Army on Main Street is Wednesday November 24. This is a fantastic fundraiser to do with your favorite community group,office, neighborhood, Brownie troop, sports team etc as the the basket can be decorated as a theme.
Please contact the Salvation Army on Main Street for more details about baskets.

Contact Kiwanis Club for more information on "Warm the Children" and their many other events.
kiwanis.club.middletown@gmail.com


http://www.middletownkiwanis.org/middletown/npo.jsp?pg=home

Middletown Salvation Army Celebrates 120 Years

The Middletown Salvation Army is celebrating 120 years of service to the Greater Middletown Area this year. The Salvation Army open its door in 1890 on Grant Street and continues to be a presence in Middletown until this day. Now located at 515 Main Street where they have been for the last 30 years.

The Salvation Army will be having a day of celebration on May 12 (Wednesday), during National Salvation Army Week. There will be an open house from 11 AM - 5 PM, a pasta dinner fund-raiser from ($10.00 per person) 5 PM-6:30 PM and the evening will close with a celebration meeting at 7 PM. The meeting will feature a Salvation Army Brass Band and local and state dignitaries to present well wishes to the Salvation Army. There will also be silent auction all day long with gift certificates from Middletown and Cromwell businesses.

As The Salvation Army looks to the future they will be totally refacing the front of their 515 Main Street location. The renovations will include a new facade, new windows, lighting, doors, and a new lobby. This work will be done throughout the summer of 2010. Also The Salvation Army has submitted proposals to begin a Teen Center for High school students. The proposed program would run three days a week from after school until the evening hours. They will find out in August if they will receive the funds they have applied for, and will move forward then.

You can call 860-347-7493 for more information

Christmas with Kiwanis Club

Today I got to stand in for a shift as pretzel-maker-person as Kiwanis Club of Middletown participated in Middlesex Chamber of Commerce’s annual weekends on Main Street where various holiday themed events are sponsored by the Chamber and local businesses and other organizations. (Left Kiwanis member Phil Cacciola chats with Santa. Looks like a very serious conversation.)
Kiwanis Club took up selling popcorn and hot pretzels in front of the Chamber from 10:30 am until 2:30 pm today. The Middletown Spartans Football Club, a semi pro league which is part of the New England Football League ( N.E.F.L.) gave out free hot chocolate and coffee also in front of the Chamber. The team is coached by local Jim Greco, and is made up of players ages 18-49 with and without prior football experience. The team is also seeking a variety of volunteer positions.
Near by on Main Street families bustled up and down the sidewalk enjoying free horse drawn hayrides sponsored by Liberty Bank, talks with Santa and Clifford the Big Red Dog outside of Holy Trinity Church, and rides on a motorized miniature train.
Kiwanis second vice president Christopher Holden (left)took care of set up this morning. Shortly after Kiwanis members braved the cold morning; member Tom D’Aquila(right) served popcorn and member Phil Cacciola collected money as I dished out pretzels in assembly line fashion. Through out the morning many other members stopped by to step in. All money collected from the sales goes to the “Holiday On Main Street” Chamber of Commerce fund.
The Kiwanis has a junior organization – Key Club, which is made up of community service minded Middletown High School students. The Key Club’s faculty advisor is Arts Department Director Marco Gaylord. The Key Club has a long standing history of Holiday related charitable activities such as working with the Head Start Program of Middletown.
Kiwanis has been responsible for a variety of other seasonal charitable events including bell ringing with the Salvation Army and the “Warm the Children Campaign” since the club was first chartered in Middletown in 1951. The "Warm the Children Campaign" is a project to provide needy families with warm winter clothing. Bell ringing this year will take place this coming weekend outside of A&P Super Foodmart on Washington Street in Middletown. Details can be found at the Club’s website. Current local chapter president is Mayor Sebastian Giuliano, who leads weekly meetings held in the Salvation Army building at the north end of Middletown.

To reach the Spartans football team email: vgreco64@hotmail.com

Next Weekend Dec. 20, 2008: Kiwanis helps out the Salvation Army's bell ringing fundraising effort at the A&P Super FoodMart on Washington Street. Get your jingle on!

For more information about upcoming events with Middletown Kiwanis drop by their website at: