Garavel CJDR In The Community

The objectives of Toys for Tots are to help less fortunate children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation’s most valuable resources – our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.

Mission Statement

The Mission of T.A.I.L.S. is to serve the community as a charitable organization that promotes spay/neutering of animals and provides financial support to humane organizations and individuals in pursuit of this goal. We are dedicated to vigorously promoting and educating the community about the importance of spay/neuter to reduce, and eventually eliminate, the killing of unwanted dogs, cats, and other animals.

History

The Weston Historical Society Inc. is a private, non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers. It was founded in 1963 at the time of the town’s 250th Anniversary.

Our Mission

Our mission is to collect, preserve, and make available artifacts relating to the history of Weston, and to educate residents about our community heritage.

Collections

The Society’s collections include objects, photographs, books, and archival records and memorabilia.

The WVFD

The WVFD is not a town agency or department, but a private (501c3), non-profit membership corporation. It is an all-volunteer, unpaid fire department made up of both women and men who go through extensive and ongoing state-certified training. This gives each member the confidence and capability to perform at a very high level.

Established in 1931 by a few town residents, the WVFD has and always will be ready 24/7 to respond to the over 500 calls we receive each year- from structure fires, motor vehicle accidents, hazardous material spills, downed power lines, water rescues and countless other emergencies.

Fairfield County’s LGBTQ Community Center

Triangle Community Center is Fairfield County’s leading provider of programming and resources to nurture growth and connection within the LGBTQ community.

TCC is the only organization focused exclusively on the LGBTQ community in Fairfield County. TCC has existed for 27 years and until 2013 operated without full-time staff. TCC offers programs, services and events that provide critical and in some cases life-saving resources and assistance to the LGBTQ community in Fairfield County. TCC offers a co-sponsored housing program that works directly with TCC’s case manager, provides emergency financial assistance to clients in need, and other direct services. TCC works closely with Mid-Fairfield AIDS Project and World Health Clinicians on HIV/AIDS related outreach, testing initiatives, and creating a more informed and healthy LGBTQ community.

TCC served over 200 case management clients in 2015 alone, after that program’s inauguration in January of that year. We also serve over 300 individuals who attend our programs and services on a weekly basis as well as over 2000 members of the Fairfield County community who attend a TCC program or event at least once a year. While our primary service area is Fairfield County, we often see people travel from Westchester, New Haven, and Litchfield counties to attend one of the programs we offer. TCC’s key target population is the LGBTQ community in Fairfield County, however we welcome all who seek our services and have many clients who do not identify as LGBTQ.

Touch-A-Truck is a community wide event where families have the opportunity to interact with, and learn about, dozens of cool vehicles. There was everything from Fire trucks, to Military vehicles! Paul Garavel is a strong believer in community, and jumped at the opportunity to send two of our customized Jeep Wranglers to the show.

We are responsible for maintaining three adopt-a-spots in West Norwalk. We also planted a Kousa Dogwood tree at the corner of Richards and Scribner and a rare Copper Beach tree at Fox Run.

Through the City of Norwalk Tree Advisory Committee, Gay Mac Cleod was instrumental in removing diseased or fallen trees and planting 25 new Maple and Oak trees along the boundaries of Fox Run School.

True Colors is a non-profit organization that works with other social service agencies, schools, organizations, and within communities to ensure that the needs of sexual and gender minority youth are both recognized and competently met. The organization trains more than 2400 people annually, organizes the largest LGBT youth conference in the country with more than 3000 attendees and manages the state’s only LGBT mentoring program. True Colors has been spotlighted by both national and local media for their expertise in LGBTI youth issues.

Mission

The Norwalk Education Foundation is committed to providing support for student learning experiences and enriching teacher practices. Our mission is accomplished by collaborating with community partners to fund programs that enhance student learning, promote student well-being, and expand teacher resources and innovation.

Meeting the needs of our communities.

When Sr. Eileen Murphy founded Amos House in 1976 she would never have imagined that 40 years later the need would have increased by over 100%. What started as a small soup kitchen to feed 30 -50 men today consists of a campus of 15 buildings including a new community center, permanent supportive housing and a mother-child reunification center. But Amos House, named after the Prophet Amos, has continued to respond to the ever changing needs of our community.

Eileen Hayes, Amos House’s current and fifth CEO/Executive Director, has led Amos House through a period of tremendous growth, including the launching of the Amos Culinary Education & Amos Carpentry Training programs, a 90-Day Transitional Housing Program emphasizing recovery from addiction, the Amos House Works social enterprise (now consisting of three businesses) that employ women and men and generate income, and the purchase of six rooming houses and three apartment buildings to house homeless men and women. Under her leadership, Amos House also added a Literacy Program and Mother Child Reunification Center. We have moved from a grass-roots soup kitchen to a comprehensive social service agency with a staff of over 50 employees, more than half of whom are former residents. We do all of this with a budget less than 4 million dollars.

After over 5 years of hard work, in 2016 we moved into our new community center. This new facility – with its 29,000 square feet, consists of a new dining hall, social services offices, and classrooms for all of our education and training programs. This new space has allowed us to meet the changing needs of our community as we continue to fulfill the mission of our campaign, building… and rebuilding Lives.

Today Amos House is a leading social service agency in Rhode Island, managing the largest soup kitchen in the state, providing social services to over 15,000 people a year and housing nearly 165 men, women and children a night. More than 500 adults have graduated from its training programs.

At the American Cancer Society, we’re on a mission to free the world from cancer. Until we do, we’ll be funding and conducting research, sharing expert information, supporting patients, and spreading the word about prevention. All so you can live longer – and better.

Women in Need is the most recent community organization we’ve had the pleasure of working with. The philosophy of WiN is simple. No overhead, no formal solicitations. Just women helping women – one jar at a time. For more information, please click Contact Us or send an email to fairwomeninneed@aol.com

In 1888, a woman’s compassion at the scene of a tragic train accident triggered concerned leaders to take action to help provide care for those in need. Thanks to the steadfast support of neighbors who understood what an outstanding hospital means to the well-being of a community, Norwalk Hospital became a reality in 1893. In the first year, 31 patients were cared for. Today, that number exceeds 315,000!

For 125 years, Norwalk Hospital has been at the forefront of providing quality, compassionate care to the residents of Fairfield County. While much has changed over the years, a common theme resonates – an unwavering commitment to provide exceptional patient care to every person in our community– close to home. Learn more here.