Annual drive nets backpacks, supplies for Valley children

Community comes together, continues a back to school tradition 

Pictured from left, front row: Jennifer Sneider, owner, J Cuts in Shelton; Marcia Jones, BHcare; Nicole Polifka, Bright Horizons Day Care; and Phyllis Hyde, Barb’s Corner Consignment. Back Row: Ross James, barber, J Cuts; Jennifer Olson, Principal of Irving School; Jen DeLeon, Boys & Girls Club of the LNV; Suzanne Reilly, Director, Family Support Services, TEAM, Inc. and Jessica Lanzi, LNV Parent Child Resource Center. 
Missing from photo: Jane Bailey, Shelton School Readiness Council./ Contributed photo

SHELTON - For the ninth year in a row, the Annual Book Bag & School Supply drive has been a great success.  More than 138 book bags and an abundance of back to school supplies were collected. 

This drive, originally begun by the owners of the former Luther's Garage, continues through J Cuts at 505 Howe Ave.

Each year beginning July 1, Jennifer Sneider, owner of J Cuts, provides the main collection location for book bags and supplies. 

"The outpouring kindness of the community always warms my heart," Sneider said. “So many people stop by to drop off donations.  Many of my customers do not hesitate to hand me five or 10 dollars so I can pick up what we are falling short on.  It is amazing how it all balances out for children in need!” 

Minuteman Press at 427B Howe Ave. donated collection posters as it has in the past.

For the first time this year, Bright Horizons Day Care and First United Methodist Church, both of Shelton, held their own collections and drop-off donations.  

In addition, Barb’s Corner Consignment, 25 West Main St., Ansonia, joined the drive this year by taking up a collection.

For the second year coordinators of the drive were contacted by Jackie Romaniuk, Dental Health Care Specialist with the Connecticut Dental Health Partnership, the dental plan for HUSKY Health.  They provided oral kits each containing a tooth brush, toothpaste, floss, and oral health education.  

The CTDHP is the dental plan for HUSKY Health and promotes good oral hygiene to more than 700,000 children and adults on the HUSKY Health plan. For the last two years, CTDHP has partnered with community agencies, primary care providers and OB/GYN offices across the state to share oral health kits with children and pregnant women who are HUSKY Health members. 

Romaniuk said, “The oral health kits contain tips to keep the mouth healthy as well as the importance of maintaining a healthy mouth to maintain a person’s general health. The beginning of the school year traditionally correlates with starting new routines and habits. This seems like the perfect opportunity to spread the oral health message of the importance of daily oral hygiene and scheduling a dental exam.”

HUSKY Health members can contact the CTDHP call center at 855- CT- DENTAL or visit www.ctdhp.com for help connecting to one of the 1,900 dental providers available.  

Children receiving donations from this drive are serviced by TEAM, Inc. and Irving School in Derby, along with the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Shelton School Readiness Program and the Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Resource Center, all in Shelton; and BHcare in Ansonia.

More than 250 oral kits were given to all students who received back to school donations, as well as, the Milford Department of Children & Families office.

J Cuts will be the main collection location beginning Jan. 1, 2016 for the 10^th Annual Monkey Love Valentine Drive.  Although this community drive officially kicks off on Jan. 1, donations are accepted at any time.  For health and safety reasons, donations must be new stuffed monkeys with tags.

This drive will benefit the same groups of children in need as the Back to School Book Bag & School Supply Drive.  The more stuffed monkeys collected, the more donations can be shared with additional agencies who serve children. 

To celebrate their 10^th consecutive year, coordinators are planning a special event at J Cuts.

Any individual, group, business, or organization is welcome to join in the Annual Monkey Love Valentine Drive by holding their own collection. 

This is a press release from drive organizers.