Crosby Commons residents in Shelton decorate lunch bags for schoolchildren

Lunch bags decorated by residents of Crosby Commons Assisted Living in Shelton./ Contributed photo

SHELTON - Kind gestures, no matter how small, have an incredible ability to create lasting joy and happiness for all parties involved. 

This certainly was true for residents of Crosby Commons, an independent and assisted living community on Long Hill Avenue as they worked to inspire New Haven schoolchildren. 

This mission was part of a Martin Luther King Days of Service project where volunteers created inspiring messages on lunch bags for local schools in hopes of reducing stigmas within their communities.

After hearing about this cause, Crosby Commons residents helped make 100 inspirational lunch bags for students who participate in the Free Lunch Program. 

The bags were covered in drawings, colorful stickers, and quotes like “Happy lunching," “Do great things,” and “Have a great meal!” 

This project was in conjunction with the Connecticut JumpStart Coalition, a group of organizations, government agencies, financial institutions, and corporations that work together to improve the financial management and responsibility of our youth. 

Kelly Coppola, Activities Director at Crosby Commons, said, “Our residents were so eager to be a part of this wonderful project! We are always looking for ways to give back to the community, and knowing our involvement would help inspire today’s youth really made this a rewarding activity.” 

Motivated by Martin Luther King Day, this project has become a source of inspiration for both the volunteers that helped make it happen and the students receiving the lunch bags. 

Crosby Commons is an award-winning assisted and independent living community located on the Wesley Village Campus at 580 Long Hill Ave. 

For more information about the community, visit www.crosbycommons.org or call 203-225-5000.

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.