All In for Seymour alliance works to support flood recovery efforts

SEYMOUR - In response to the recent floods that have devastated Seymour, Oxford, and surrounding towns, a growing local and regional alliance of churches, food pantries, local businesses, service organizations, and residents called All In for Seymour has joined forces with their neighbors and government to support the recovery effort.   

Within hours of offering to become an aid distribution site, Trinity Episcopal Church was flooded with clothes, blankets, toys, toiletries, and other items donated by the community. Surveying this outpouring of generosity, Rev. Tricia Pasley commented that “I saw ‘Valleyness’ firsthand. We planned to collect donations over several days, but in the span of four hours the donations were eight feet deep.  

The Seymour Oxford Food Bank, faced with a marked increase in need, expanded its operating hours and began distributing fresh produce, bottled water, and pantry staples with no questions asked. 

Director Kristina Walton, who also runs the Oxford Neighbor to Neighbor Pantry from her front lawn, hopes the food bank can remain “a place where everyone is welcomed and loved, and can have their needs met.”

Other All In for Seymour alliance members quickly stepped up to collaborate. 

The Blessing Pantry, the Little Free Pantry on Skokorat, and Seymour Food 2 Kids helped collect, sort, and distribute donations of food pouring in from all over the state. 

M&T Bank worked with Trinity Church to raise over $20,000 for flood relief. Seymour Congregational Church organized a benefit concert - still available for viewing on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/live/PAXB1crzYu0) – and the Love Mom XOXO Foundation started an apparel campaign featuring the logo “Small Town. Big Heart” - apparel can be purchased through the foundation’s website (www.lovemomxoxo.org/floodrelief) or Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/lovemomxoxo?mibextid=LQQJ4d).  

Seymour Congregational Church has also been collecting food donations, storing overflow donations for the food bank, and offering people of all faiths space for comfort, meditation, and healing.

In addition to these efforts – and taking part in ongoing clean-ups at sites like Klarides Village – All In for Seymour has been hosting monthly Eat and Greet gatherings, an opportunity for neighbors to share a meal, hear each other’s stories, and work together to come up with solutions to common challenges. 

The September event at Trinity Episcopal Church featured home cooked comfort food, including Trinity’s famous meatloaf, as well as breakout rooms for optional mini reiki sessions and spiritual support. As always, events are free and open to everyone. 

Corrine Weston, who recently moved to Seymour and attended last month’s Eat and Greet gathering, said, “My family and I have come from a different Connecticut town, where we experienced three floods, had to evacuate twice and lost so much. During those times not once did the rally come from our leaders in the church community or the residents to help their neighbors. 

"Instead, people complained that you were taking too long to clean or that your dumpster needed to be emptied. No phone calls or offers of support. But what happened here in Seymour was everyone pitched in to first check on the safety of their community and neighbors, rolled up their sleeves and worked side by side. 

"Clothing and food supplies are overflowing and still this community is looking to comfort anyone hurting. Years ago, when we traveled past this area, we often wondered what type of people live in Seymour, now we know.”  

All In for Seymour (allinforseymour.org) is an alliance of community members and local organizations working to ensure that everyone in Seymour has a place including a safe and affordable place to live, a place where access to food is secure, and a place in the discussions and decisions that affect residents’ lives. 

All In for Seymour is one of several All In alliances in the area (allinalliances.org), supported by the regional antipoverty agency TEAM, Inc. (teaminc.org) and the regional community organizing network the Naugatuck Valley Project (nvpct.org). 

This month’s All In for Seymour “Eat and Greet” community gathering will be held Oct. 24 from 6-8:30 p.m. with location TBD. 

Event updates and RSVP (which is recommended) are available via the All In for Seymour website, www.allinforseymour.org/gathering.

This is a press release from Jenny Rice, founding member, All In for Seymour, and steward, Little Free Pantry on Skokorat. 

Klarides-Ditria shares info about disaster assistance in response to flooding

Friends and neighbors,

A major disaster declaration has been approved in response to the August 18 extreme flooding in our area. 

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance by clicking the button below, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA app. 

Disaster Assistance Federal assistance could include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners. The state, FEMA and SBA are currently identifying locations in the impacted counties to open disaster recovery & business recovery centers that will provide in-person support to help affected individuals apply for assistance. SBA Opens Business Recovery Centers The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has opened Business Recovery Centers (BRC) in Oxford, at the Oxford Town Hall, and in Monroe, at the Monroe Police Department, to assist businesses with losses due to severe storm, flooding, landslides and mudslides. The disaster declaration covers Fairfield, Litchfield and New Haven counties which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA.  SBA’s Customer Service Representatives can assist business owners complete their disaster loan application, accept documents, and provide updates on an application’s status. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment at an SBA Business Recovery Center in advance.   Application Filing Deadlines: Physical Damage: November 19, 2024 Economic Injury: June 20, 2025 What Types of Disaster Loans are Available? Business Physical Disaster Loans – Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible. Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) – Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period. Home Disaster Loans – Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate and personal property, including automobiles. What are the Credit Requirements? • Credit History – Applicants must have a credit history acceptable to SBA. • Repayment – Applicants must show the ability to repay all loans.

Sincerely,

Bills, glorious bills, greet writer on her return home

Back to reality.

I left home on Mother's Day and returned on Father's Day. It was an interesting five weeks away.

The first five nights were spent at Yale New Haven Hospital St. Raphael campus where I had major surgery. After that I was at a short-term rehab getting stronger and learning how to use a walker. It was nice not to have to shop, cook, or clean!

I fell in my kitchen after our Mother's Day dinner and broke my femur, fractured my arm, and got a gash near my eyebrow that required five stitches.

It was a Mother's Day to remember.

Today I've spent several hours going through a pile of mail - mostly bills - and catching up on emails and texts.

I've really missed writing my blog and keeping up with the goings-on in our Valley community. I hope to get back to it tomorrow.

My new theme will be Recuperation Journey: 2.0. 

As the saying goes, expect the unexpected. I know I will from now on.

Author to discuss book on resilience, recovery at Griffin Hospital in Derby

 

Save the date: A Chance to Shine annual event slated June 1 in Oxford

A Chance to Shine is an annual event to benefit all BHcare programs. The funds raised will help countless children, adults, and families in the community as they strive to recover from mental illness, substance use, domestic violence and other health-risk behaviors.

Derby mayor beats COVID-19, thanks residents for support

Sharing Friday morning's Facebook post from Derby Mayor Richard Dziekan:

"As most of you know I came down with COVID-19 three weeks ago.

"I would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. The outpouring was unbelievable I can’t thank you enough. It was a tough road but Sherry and myself made it out. We are 100%. 

"God bless you all wear your mask and sanitize your hands."

Adam's House in Shelton slates outing this week for widows' support group

Many times we have been asked, "Does Adam's House have a group for widows? " We realize that it is through your shared stories and struggles that you will find comfort and support from each other. Our monthly "Moving Forward" group will have our second outing on July 11th. This group will focus on offering each other encouragement, motivation and strength as we shape our next chapter. This group is for men and women who are looking to be an active participant in their recovery. We will meet next off-site on Thursday, July 11th. Interested? Please click the link below to register: I am ready to Move Forward!

Trinity Episcopal Church in Seymour to host special Christmas service

*Sharing from the Alliance for Prevention and Wellness Facebook page.

PCRC welcomes new medical director

  Dr. Sandra Gomez Luna/Contributed photo

The Parent Child Resource Center, a division of BHcare, is pleased to announce Dr. Sandra Gomez Luna has joined the organization as Medical Director. 

Dr. Gomez Luna is responsible for the administrative and clinical leadership at PCRC in Derby and Shelton. 

She will also work with adults through the new Medically Assisted Treatment program at BHcare’s Ansonia location.

“I am excited to help PCRC and BHcare expand their range of services to include the entire family,” said Dr. Gomez Luna. “Closing the gap between children’s services and adult services is important for long-time recovery.” 

Dr. Gomez Luna is a board certified Child and Adolescent, Adult, and Addiction Psychiatrist.  She has a wide range of expertise in direct service, program development and clinic administration. 

She has consulted for several school districts, she was the founder and service chief of an adolescent transitional living program and was medical director of an inpatient adolescent unit at a private hospital.  

Most recently, Dr. Gomez Luna served as Chief Medical Officer for a DMHAS-operated facility.

About PCRC

PCRC provides hope and help for children, adolescents, teens, and families struggling with emotional and behavioral issues.  

Each year PCRC provides children’s mental health services for more than 1,200 children and families. 

Visit www.bhcare.org for more information.

Candlelight vigil in Oxford to highlight opioid awareness

Ansonia author to discuss book about heart attack, recovery at Library

Sharing from the City of Ansonia Facebook page:

"Ansonia resident Joe Mauro will promote his recently published book, "I Am Joe’s Heart (Attack)," with a book signing/discussion at the Ansonia Public Library, [53 S. Cliff St.,] at 6 p.m. July 13.

"Mauro, a retired meteorologist and a heart attack survivor at age 43, writes a whimsical and factual account of his life experiences and events leading up to, during, and post-heart attack recovery.

"Later this month, July 30, Mauro’s promotional book tour will take him to the renowned RJ Julia’s Bookstore in Madison with a signing/discussion there. The signing/discussion is free, open to all and takes place in the 2nd floor Reference Room of the Ansonia Public Library."

Alliance for Prevention & Wellness to host screening in Seymour of addiction documentary

SEYMOUR - BHcare’s Alliance for Prevention & Wellness will host a special screening of GENERATION FOUND at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at Entertainment Cinemas, 814 Derby Ave. 

The documentary is a powerful story about one community coming together to ignite a youth addiction recovery revolution in their hometown. 

Devastated by an epidemic of addiction, Houston faced the reality of burying and locking up its young people at an alarming rate. 

GENERATION FOUND takes an unprecedented and intimate look at how a system of treatment centers, sober high schools, alternative peer groups, and collegiate recovery programs can exist in concert to intervene early and provide a real and tested long-term alternative to the “War on Drugs.” 

GENERATION FOUND is a great way to catalyze a dialogue on youth addiction and recovery issues in your community. View the trailer at http://generationfoundfilm.com.

Tickets are $11 each and may be purchased at http://gathr.us/screening/16561.

The Alliance for Wellness and Prevention is a program of BHcare. For more information, visit www.APW-CT.org. 

For more information on BHcare, visit www.bhcare.org.

This is a press release from BHcare,a regional community provider of behavioral health, addiction prevention, and domestic violence services for the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Greater New Haven, and Shoreline communities.  

BHcare to showcase clients' art at library in Branford

As part of BHcare’s May is Mental Health Awareness Month activities, an art show will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 8 at James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford.

Witness the talents of BHcare clients who use photography, sculpture, painting, and other

forms of art to help them in their recovery from mental illness and addiction.

Admission is free and light refreshments will be served.

For information about BHcare’s May is Mental Health Awareness Month activities and events, visit www.bhcare.org.

This is a press release from BHcare, a regional community provider of behavioral health, addiction prevention, and domestic violence services for the Shoreline, Greater New Haven and Lower Naugatuck Valley communities.  

For more information, visit www.bhcare.org.