S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 1 4 W i n d h a m A r e a I n t e r f a i t h M i n i s t r y

WAIMnews

W hen Maria Garcia

hit Willimantic

eleven years ago

with her two young children,

she didn’t have much to call

her own except her strength

and her wits. She came to

Willimantic because her

brother is here, and she

needed a safe place. When

she asked where to go for

help, someone told her to go

to WAIM.

On her first visit she met

Genevieve Micale. They

clicked immediately, and

Maria and her children (then

six and four years old) have

called Gen “Gramma” ever

since. Gen has helped her

with far more than children’s

clothes, she says. Gen has

given her a “heads up” at

school uniform or Christmas

toy application time over the

years, and has given advice

when things got tough rais-

ing her daughter and son.

Maria came to New York City

twenty-one years ago as a

young woman from the Do-

minican Republic. She met

her husband, then had her

children, a daughter first,

then two years later, a son.

Over time, her husband, who

was a gang member, be-

came very abusive toward

her. He would lock her and

the children in their apart-

ment when he was gone,

and she couldn’t get out.

When she did go out, she

had to cover herself com-

pletely or she would get

beaten. Once he inflicted

two broken ribs and large

bruises on her face. At that

point, Maria knew she had

to escape and she hit him

over the head and ran. No

one in her family would take

her in because they were all

afraid of her husband. She

had her son Michael in a

stroller, her daughter

Vanessa walking next to her,

and only the clothes on their

backs, some milk and dia-

pers. A police officer

stopped to talk to her and

noticed the bruises. He

brought her to a shelter

where she stayed for two

years. The case manage-

ment at the program was

what Maria needed, and

when her strength returned,

and she knew her husband

was in prison, she went to

community college and re-

ceived a certification to be a

teaching assistant.

Knowing her husband would

soon be out of prison and

find her, she came to Con-

necticut. Her brother was

here, and she wanted a

good education for Vanessa

and Michael. And they got

them. Vanessa graduated

from EO Smith on June 17th

this year, and will be attend-

ing UConn Avery Point in the

fall. She aspires to be a

social worker. Michael is at

Windham Tech. He has been

studying mechanics there,

but has switched to health

for next year because he too

wants to help people. They

are simply emulating their

mother, who spent seven

years teaching and providing

family assistance to the

mothers and babies at the

Windham High Day Care.

She has been ill, but in the

fall will continue her educa-

tion at Eastern Connecticut

State University to study

social work. “It is my passion

to help people”, she says.

Even now, Maria still helps

in the community by provid-

ing translation services for

her neighbors. She says she

brings them to the hospital,

to appointments, to WAIM.

She passes the word about

services in the community,

and on a recent day, picked

up a flier to make sure the

families in her neighborhood

knew about the application

deadlines for school uni-

forms. “I try to show people

that you can fall down many

times but you can still stand

up,” she says.

WAIM isn’t the biggest or the

slickest agency that provides

basic needs for people in

need, but it is like a ripple in

the water. Genevieve

showed kindness to Maria,

and Maria, Vanessa and

Michael will spend their lives

giving to others. We never

know how each kindness

can change someone’s life.

PAYING IT

FORWARD

Genevieve Micale (left) and Maria Garcia pose in WAIM’s Women’s Boutique area.

Related story p. 3

Celebrating 30 Years of Service to the Community!

PAGE 2

Please Join Us for

WAIM’s 30th Anniversary Celebration

You join our annual Walk for Warmth.

You mentor those who need stability in their lives.

You arrange clothing and household items for in-need

families to bring home.

You partner with us in our fight against poverty.

You support our services with your generous gifts of

time, talent and treasure...

Thank You for making our work possible.

In recognition of your support, we invite you, your

family and friends to join our celebration!

Sunday, September, 21, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Franco-American Club

116 Club Road

Windham, CT

GENEVIEVE MICALE is “MA” to MANY

STEEPLECHASE SUCCESS & FUN!

caption

T wenty-two and a half years ago is when Genevieve

Micale began volunteering at WAIM. When she retired in

1992, Gen thought she’d volunteer somewhere, and

someone at church mentioned WAIM. Then someone else men-

tioned the Red Cross. She spent the next 15 years at both!

How WAIM has grown. Gen started at the Maple Street site which

was small, she says. Her job was to check people in, so she got to

know everyone. She developed the registration system herself us-

ing index cards. The next location, Moulton Court, was bigger, but

hard for many people to reach with public transportation. Then the

move to Main Street and the arrival of computers meant Gen

moved to the kid’s clothes department because she didn’t want to

deal with computers. Eight years ago the children’s department

was small, but it has grown over the years. Gen is definitely in

charge of her “fiefdom,” but in a kind and loving way. “Everyone

calls me Ma,” she says, “and even Grandma now.” In some cases,

she may see three generations in a family. “I like it here,” she says.

“I particularly enjoy taking care of people. My passion is the Christ-

mas program when the kids come to pick presents to give to their

caregivers.” You can call Gen “Ma” when you see her too. She is at

WAIM all the time, even Saturdays, “unless it snows,” she says.

SAVE

THE

DATE!

P ut aside August 16th for the 23rd Annual Steeplechase Bike

Tour. Whether you ride or volunteer, it’s always a good time.

Steeple Chase Organizer and Volunteer, Ed Austin, says he

might not have had the idea, but he was at least in the board meet-

ing where it was floated. It was the late ‘80’s and WAIM had a

$16,000 budget. More money was needed to grow the organiza-

tion. A Bike Tour came up in conversation, and everyone liked it, so

they moved forward. WAIM and Perception Programs were partners

from the beginning, when the first ride began at St. Mary’s School

under Ernie Eldridge’s big tent. Parking soon became a problem, so

the tour moved to the mill, with headquarters on the loading dock.

Since the recent move to Eastern Connecticut State University, Ed

says “it has cut my work in half… Eastern is made for events.”

Ed has been there since the beginning, and will be there again this

year. He knows the idiosyncrasies of each route, and though he

may not be on a bicycle, he paints the arrows on the tour and he

leads the sag wagons. These days he is thankful that everyone has

a cell phone so the sag wagon drivers don’t have to rely on the

kindness of strangers. One year, Ed had to tape Tricia Baker’s (now

WAIM Board president) foot to her broken pedal for her 100 mile

ride!

After 22 years, the Steeplechase has become the major fund event

for WAIM. Ed says it’s gone from $2,000 the first year, to $70,000

last year. It’s a wonderful ride for two great causes.

VOLUNTEER PROFILE

W AIM receives lots and lots of

donated used computers, key-

boards, printers and add-ons

with cables galore. Usually, they are put

aside until a volunteer can assess them.

The goal is always to put a set of these

items together in working order to give to

someone who needs it. New volunteer, Leo

Young, says he’s going to help – really help.

Leo is here from China with his wife, who is

a Ph.D. student at UConn. As her spouse, he is not allowed to work for money

while they are here, but he still wants to make a contribution. Almost one year

ago, he started fixing bicycles for the Little Angels Program. Those bikes are given

away to local kids who need them. Three months ago, he started sharing his exper-

tise at WAIM by fixing donated computers and printers and working on the loading

dock three days each week. Leo, you understand, isn’t just a volunteer, he’s a gift.

The man holds a Master’s of Science Degree in computer engineering from Yan

Shan University! We are so grateful that Leo is sharing his talents at WAIM while

he’s here in the United States.

WAIM REMEMBERS SAM SHEPARDSON

and Rev. CURT HOFFMAN

I n the past year, WAIM has

grieved for two of our most

beloved volunteers:

Sam Shepardson (August 6,

1924—August 31, 2013)

and Rev. Curt Hoffman (March

26, 1927—April 8, 2014).

Sam was a long-time member

of the First Baptist Church of

Mansfield, and was involved

with WAIM early on. You might

have seen Sam building WAIM’s

handicap ramp with Ed Austin,

or working in his shed, fixing

one of WAIM’s donation carts.

It was always a pleasure to see

Sam when he stopped by the

office to drop something off, or

just to say hello.

Curt wore many hats at WAIM—

literally and figuratively! Curt

could be found sorting pantry

donations, gathering recycling

material, cleaning up dirt and

debris around the loading dock

area...all while wearing one of

the silly hats he found in a

donation bin. There was a time

when Curt could also be found

sitting in the Executive

Director’s chair as interim

director prior to hiring Virginia

Fulton. There was no job too

big or too small for him—all

were important.

Both gentleman worked

tirelessly to help achieve

WAIM’s goals. They each used

their humor to ease a difficult

situation. Sam with a

mischievous wink and smile,

and Curt with a quip or a story.

Their presence is missed, and

their legacy to the organization

lives on.

PAGE 3

T he Walk For Warmth (WFW) is one of WAIM's two annual signature events.

One of the greatest benefits to the event is the opportunity it offers for

children to learn that THEY can make a difference in the world. We have

heard about Olivia Baker who, at the age of 8 asked her mother "What can I do to

help people stay warm in their houses this winter?" She went on to raise $800

that year and has increased that amount every year for the past 7 years. If you

ask her how she does it she will say, "You just have to ask people you know if they

will sponsor you. Once you tell them that there are real people who will have to

live without heat in the Connecticut winter, they always give. People WANT to help

others but they don't know how.”

Olivia's passion for this cause spilled over onto some young friends in her

neighborhood who love to put up a lemonade stand. Because they learned about

the need from Olivia, they decided to donate their proceeds to the WFW. Madison

and Ryan Dunston raised over $200 just by being creative, energetic and by

wanting to make a difference! You may have followed them last year as they led

the WFW carrying WAIM's banner. There is also Aidan Anderson, who started

raising funds in elementary school and as a middle schooler raised several

hundred dollars last year! These kids feel directly connected to people in our

community who have a need, and they know they can do something significant to

meet it. They are role models for all of us.

It is now taking more money to help each family because the cost of energy is so

high, so the $30,000 raised last year was not enough to meet the need. Maybe

more grown-ups could take a cue from these awesome kids and "JUST ASK"

people around us to help us make a difference.

NEVER TOO YOUNG TO HAVE A CAUSE by Patricia Baker, WAIM Board President

Unless otherwise noted, WAIM News articles were written by Diane Sprague. Victoria Nimirowski served as editor and layout artist.

THIS YEAR’S WALK FOR WARMTH IS NOVEMBER 24TH!

Many thanks to the congregations, organizations and individuals who donate to WAIM on a regular basis and are the heart and soul of our mission. The following donors have made at least one financial contribution during the past fiscal year, July 1 2013 through June 30, 2014. Hundreds more – too many to list – have donated clothing, furniture , household items or their time. We are grateful for every gift and truly appreciate your generosity.

Individuals Harold & Carol Abramson

Karl & Elizabeth Acimovic

Abigail Adams

Grace Adams

Kenneth & Cinnamon Adams

Priscilla Adams

Steven & Freeman Adil

Philip Yeagle & Arlene Albert

Regina Alfieri

George & Lynne Allen

Polly Allen

Michael & Edith Allison

Roy & Nancy Allison

Theodore & Linda Almquist

Henry & Beth Alves

Jay & &y Ames

Jonathan Andersen

Charlotte Anderson

Cynthia Anderson

Lana Anderson

Paul Anderson

William & Timothy Grogan

Anderson

Arthur Wood & Annamarie

Andrews

Bea Andrews

Elizabeth Andrews

Michael & Susan Angelides

Charles & Ethel Anthes

Archambault Household

Estelle Armstrong

Helen Armstrong

Lawrence Armstrong

Lucille Arsenault

Christine Ashe

Patricia Asher

Robert Asher

L & G Ash-Morgan

Janet Atkins

Donna Audet

Bernard & Anne Auger

Ed & Faith Austin

Warren & Laura Austin

Charles & Deborah Avila

Theresa Bacon

Leon & Malta Bailey

Louise Bailey

William Bailey

Maura Baker

Robert Baldwin

Rajeev & Suzanne Bansal

John & Frances Barclay

Brady Barksdale

Peggy Barron

Philip & Lena Barry

Yaakov & Eva Bar-shalom

Susan Bartholomew

John & Jeannette Bartock

Rebecca & Penny Barton-

Zuckerman

David & Cynthia Bass

Richard & Poehlitz Bass

Yvonne Bass

Robert & Susan Esty Bauer

Alan & Beth Baumert

Andy & Barbara Baylock

Beaulieu Dickinson

Household

Leo & Sherry Beauregard

Marion Beausoleil

Curt Beck

Kathleen Beckett

Gregory Haddad & Donna

Becotte

Kenneth & Beverly Bedini

Sharon Beebe

Catherine Belanger

Ron & Judy Belek

Ellen J Bell

Gary & Gloria Bent

Bonnie Bentley

Brenda Bergen

Granville & Ursula Beschler

Stanley & Patricia Biggs

Wilfred & Judith Bigl

Thomas & Jennifer Billard

Kenneth & Jeanine Billington

Linda Bird

Harry & Honey Birkenruth

Joseph & Adeline Bissonnette

Jane Blanshard

Martin & Lynn Bloom

Thomas & Linda Blum

James & Jane Ann Bobbitt

Edward & Diana Bogue

Ruth Bolduc

Marcella Booth

Frederick & Linda Boothroyd

Carrie Boron

Eileen Furey & Shirley Boron

Helen Liz Bosco

James Boster & Cornelia

Dayton

Neil & Ellen Bourgeois

Angela Bowen

Gene & Francia Bowen

Larry Bowman

Peter & Jennifer Bradshaw

Katherine Brady

John & Elaine Brand

Marina Demos Brand

David & Cynthia Brault

Jo-Ann Bray

Maryanne Brennan

David & Ellen Faith Brodie

Jennifer Brokaw

Joseph & Susan Brosseau

Rheo & Faith Brouillard

Cindy Brown

Kevin & Cheryl Brown

Lynn & Marjorie Brown

Thomas & Gail Bruhn

John & Mary Bruno

David & Nancy Bull

Hill & &rea Bullard

Patricia Bullock

Nicholas & Lyn Buonocore

Irene Burke

Peter & Christiane Burkhard

Dennis & Diana Burns

Beverly Burr

Morris & Arlene Burr

Mark Busa & Mary Rose

Meade

George & Colette Butterick

Norman Caisse

Marjorie Caldwell

Priscilla Cale

Elizabeth Cameron

Bruce & Marcia Campbell

George Campbell

Leo & Patricia Campbell

Reid Campbell

Noreen Carpenter

Susan Carpenter

Joseph & Edith Cary

Thomas & Rachel Casey

Alice Cassells

Vivian Castelli

Donald & Janice Castle

Brian & Donna Cawley

Deborah & Raechel Chabot-

weingart

Celeste Champion

Joyce Chandler

Joseph & Elizabeth Charron

Robert Colwell & Robin

Chazdon

Richard & Jacqueline Cheney

Lawrence Ching

Diane Christensen & Robert

Stone

Warren & Marguerite Church

Susan Chvirko

John & MaryEllen Cillizza

Boguslaw & Beverly Ciurylo

Rebecca & Long Clark

Roland & Lorraine Cloutier

Christine Coates

Walter & Carol Cochran

Jill Coghlan

Lois Coleman

Coley Household

Jack & Jane Collins

Michael & Rosen Collins

Thomas & Elizabeth Collins

Ruben & Rodriguez Concep-

cion

Judith Conland

Wanda Connor

Doug & Nan Cooper

Susan Cope

Georgianne & Lee Copley

Shirley Corcoran

Alex & Jane Corl

Paul & Paula Corrente

David Corsini & Delia Berlin

Doris Cottrell

Robert & Roberta Coughlin

Peter & Anna Crawford

Ronald & Marsha Creese

Sean & Leigh Cremin

Angela Cretors

James & Anita Cunningham

Craig & Jean Cyr

Peter & Cynthia Czarnecki

Francis & Lorraine Czelusniak

Charles & Cynthia Dainton

Matthew & Stephanie Dakin

Margaret Daly

Daniel & Lyn Marra

Andrew & Dexene D'Appollo-

nio

Debra Davis

Ridgway Davis

J & P Dawson

Ronald & Janet De Carolis

Michael Della Fera

Jeffrey & Lucy DeLuca

Steven & Lois DeMurjian

Barbara Depray

Jean Derby

Joseph & Elaine DeSilva

Robert Hackemack & Jean

DeSmet

Giselle DeVito

John & Susan DeWolf

Zoila Diaz

Richard & Karen Dibala

Bruce & Nancy Dickerman

Alex & Susan Dickinson

Peter & Nora Ann Dickinson

Arthur & Christine Dimock

Brenda Dinsmore

John & Susan Dione

Paul Dmytrasz

Kenneth Doeg

Kathleen Donahue

Mark & Patricia Donahue

Donald A. Billington Estate

William & Lois Donato

James & Judith Donnelly

Maryellen Donnelly

Peter & Beatrice Donohue

Jean Claude Doucet

Roland & Carol Doucette

Arthur B & Michele Dougherty

John & Priscilla Douglas

Paul Doyle

Janna Drake

Edna Drescher

Elaine Drew

Robert & Lynne Druge

Patricia Drum

Robert & Patricia Dubos

Kathleen Duchesne

Jakim Duckstein

Linda Duckstein

Diane Duhamel

Sonia Dunker

Dunstan Household

Christopher & Patricia Dustin

Charles Dyson

Joseph & Dorothy Eaton

Crawford & Carol Shinto Elder

Tammy Eldridge

Richard & Doreen Ellis

Walter & Mary Ellen Elwell

Kristin Emmons

Keith & Paula Enderle

David Enggas

Susan England

Paula Engler

Lynn Ereshena-Manning

Derek & Katherine Erismann

Harry & Susan Evageliou

David & Donna Evan

George & Mary Evans

Michael Coyne & Susannah

Everett

Mary Falotico

Thomas & Jane Fenton

James & Cheryl Ferguson

Robert & Susan Fernandez

Carol Fineout

Stephen & Marlyn Fiori

Calvin & Carole Fish

Frank & Anne Fitzpatrick

Patrick Flaherty

Nicole Lintereur & Mark Flinn

Bertrand & Marguerite Flynn

Lawrence & Nancy Flynn

Millicent Flynn

Deniz & Carol Fonseca

Patricia Forkner

John Fortunato & Elizabeth

Aschenbrenner

Sharon Foster-Chalecki

David & Susan Fowler

George & Josephine Fox

Janis Franklin

Ivan & Barbara Franson

Helen Fried

Todd & Mona Friedland

Patricia Gaenzler

Matthew & Heather

Galaneau

Joseph & Patricia Gallagher

Lorraine B. Gallup

Richard Gallup

Louise Garabedian

David & Lisa Gardner

Michael & Theresa Gardner

Joelen Gates

Harry & Ann Gaucher

Harry & Camille Gaucher

Elaine Gaumond

Susan Gavitt

Ted & Mary Gawlicki

Danny & Judy Gebben

Linda Geer

P A Geissler

David Gendreau

Marilyn Gerling

Charles & Barbara Giardina

Joan Gibson

Dorothy Gifford

Richard & Diane Giggey

Mr. Jean & Mrs. Mary Gilbert

George & Joan Gilbransen

James Gillespie & Tracy

Kelley

Ellen Marie Gillette

Otis & Dorothy Gilliam

Benson Ginsburg

Thomas & Marilyn Giolas

Davita Silfen Glasberg

Bill & Joan Russoniello Goba

Eric Goldberg & Katherine

Bohr

Robert & Alice Goldberg

Bruce & Sharry Goldman

Ronald & Carol Goldstein

Juan & Carla Gomez

Paul & Merrilyn Goodwin

Dawn Goracy

Sam Gordon

Edward & Susan Grace

Raymond Gray

Cathleen Greene

Suzanne E Greene

C. Walpole Griffin

Robert & Rebecca Grillo

Peter Grose & Margaret Ruth

Nye

Felix & Judith Grzych

Mark & Kathi Gudmundson

Oscar & Marguerite Guilbault

PAGE 4

PAGE 5

Ernest & Betsy Gunn

AJR Guttay

Dennis & Elaine Guyette

Andrew & Forgione Haas

Jeanne Haas

Ruth & Judy Haddad

Wayne & Loretta Haeger

David & Janet Haines

Stanton & Sandra Hale MD

Juanita Hall

Roswell & Gretchen Hall

Spenser & Lori Hall

Nusie Halpine

Jason & Annette Hamilton

Ceceile & Marian Hanyckyj

Lois Happe

Karen Haraghey

Albert & Linda Ann Harbec

Ross & Mary Harper

Keltz & Carol Harris

Gerald Hart

Matthew & Kara Hart

Kathryn Haserick

Sandra Hastings

Peggy B. Hawkins

Winston & Norma Hawkins

Stephen & Linda Hayes

William & Susan Hayes

Mary Hayes-Siegrist

Clayton & Carol Hayward

Charlotte Hebert

Betty Heiss

Paul & Ruth Heller

Georgina Hendrick

Joseph & Cynthia Henry

Jeri Hepworth

William & Diane Hettrick

Susan Hewes

Maryann Hickelton

Joseph & Kathy Hickey

Donald & Lenora Hicks

Delbert & Rubi Hickson

Ann Higginbotham

Carol Higgins

Charles & Maria Higgins

Lawrence & Gayle Hightower

Theodore & Lucille Hill

Norman & Marsha Hilsenrad

Robert & Deborah Hippler

William & Karen Hocking

William & Marsha Hogue

Nancy Holman

Ronald & Carol Holman

Nancy Holst

Katherine Holt

George & Jane Homick

Elisabeth Houle

Michael & Jane Howard

Rev.Donald & Jan Hoyle

Janet Huber

Jonathan Hufstader

James & Cecile Hurley

Huber & Cynthia Hurlock

Richard & Carol Ingraham

Joanne Ives

Nathan & Mary Ives

Jane Jackman

John & Mary Jackman

Patti-Ann Jajliardo

Norman & Jacqueline Janes

Alice Bertha Jansen

Mary & Dawn Jarvis

Paul & Jeanne Jatkowski

Robert & Amanda Jellen

Donald & Marsha Jendrewski

Robert & Elsie Jenkins

Robert Jennette

Ann Johnson

Harry Johnson

Keith & Marietta Johnson

Scott & Kaye Johnson

William & Patricia Johnson

Irene Jones

Janet Jones

Richard & Leigh Jones

Bamman

Daniel & Melissa Jordan

David & Carol Jordan

Raymond & Theresa Kalber

BetteJane Karnes

Shirley Kassman

Leonard & Barbara Katz

Lewis & Shirley Katz

Susan Kay

Denise Keane

Andrew & Sarah Keleher

Andrea Kelley

Thomas & Heather Kelly

Elizabeth Kennard

Sean & Catherine Kennelly

Joyce Kerns

John & Kerttu Kersen

Jay & Dana Kessler

Lamia Khairallah

Timothy & Carol Killeen

Brian & Lisa King

Waldo & Linda Klein

Edith Klemark

Charles & Charleen Knapp

Dennis & Joyce Knowlton

Jim & Jane Knox

Kohn Household

Carolyn Kokoska

Ann Kouatly

Omar Kouatly

Milton & Dorothy Kozelka

Henry & June Krisch

Michael & Miriam Kurland

K. Narayan Kutty

Alice & Shane Kuzel

Kathleen Labadorf

Maurice & Mary Lacasse

James & Barbara Lacey

Johnpaul & Sarah Lacombe

Robert & Beatrice LaCombe

Timothy & Phyllis LaFlamme

Gregg & Linda LaFontaine

Mark & Shafer Lafontaine

Doris Williams Lake

Vernon & Eldred Lamb

Wally & Christine Lamb

Keith & Brenda Lambert

Marco & Linda Lambert

Mark & Jacqueline Lambert

Shakti Lane

Roger & Phyllis LaPierre

Katherine LaRiviere

Charles & Mildred Larkins

Michael & Mildred Larkins

Robert Lataille

Ruth Laughlin

William & Ruth Laughlin

Richard & Jean Lavecchia

Lavigne Household

Mark & Rogers LLC Lavigne

Leary Household

Lebanon Leos

Willem & Sheila Ledeboer

Robert & Jeanne Leduc

Scott & Rebecca Lehmann

Parise LeMaire

David & Mary Jane Lenihan

John Lepore

Brian & Margarita Lessard

Robin Lessard

Catherine Levine

James Levine

William & Karen Levine

Eugene & Linda Lewis

David & Susan Light

Carl & Julia Lindquist

Gerald & Marie Liskom

Norman & Pamela Livingston

Raymond & Bernice Lizee

Jean Lonergan

Richard & Mary Elizabeth

Long

William & Patricia Long

Denise Longobucco-Bierce

Leanna Loomer

Thomas & Hollace Lorch

Thomas & Kathi Loto

James Loughead

Elinor Lowell

Robin Lubatkin

Suzanne Ludwig

Catherine Lynch

Gordon & Bette MacDonald

Benedict & Grazina Maciuika

Allan & Patricia Maines

Robert & Stacy Malecki

Michael & Doreen Maloney

Madeleine Manning

Thomas & Marilee Manning

Paul & Adrienne Manzone

Norman & Mary Marchand

Alexander Markons

Adrienne Marks

Norman & Maryann Marrotte

David & Sherri-Ann Martin

Michael & Karen Martin

Mark & Shari Masinda

Nancy Mathis

Kirk & Lisa Matson

Frank & Shirley Mauro

Kate May

Edward & Alison Mayo

Paul & Christina Mazza

Laurie Mazzarella Ganoe

Kevin McLaughlin & Sandra

McAlduff

Thomas & Helen Mcavoy

Olive McCabe

Margaret McCarrick

Kevin & Jean Mccarthy

David & Judith McChesney

Cheryl McClain

William & Lisa McCooey

John & Lisa McCormick

Genevieve McGann

James & Patricia McGill

John & Charleen McGill

Mark & Virginia McGuire

Michael & Patricia McHugh

Richard & Kathleen McKee

John & Monica McKerracher

Anna McLain

Joe & Donna McLaughlin

Kathy Medbery

Susan Meisler

Mahmoud & Catharina

Melehy

Judith Melichar

Joseph Mellet

James & Cynthia Mello

Dorothea Mercier

Stephen Merlino & Kathleen

Mangiafico

Phyllis Meshanic

Eileen Metzgar

Harold & Judith Meyer

Gen Micali

David & Gerda Walz-Michaels

Ronald & Adelle Milavsky

Sarah Milius

Marty Milkovic & Beth Bauer

Alan & Katherine Miller

Paul & Ginny Miller

Robert & Sandra Millholen

Laurie F Millix

Peter Millman & Marie

Cantino

Martin & Michele Mlyniec

Marion Moebus

Sandra Mohammed

Kathleen Monroe

Philip & Jeanne Monty

Peter & Mary Moon

Michael & Carol Moran

Stephen & Laureen Moran

Anthony & Jeanne Morascini

David & Patricia Morency

Charles & Noreen Morgan

William & Susan Morgan

William Reese Morgan

Kathleen Moriarty

Thomas & Sondra Morrison

James Morrow

David Morse

Stanley & Cynthia Morytko

Linda Kaminski & Carol

Moulton

Neil & Jane Moynihan

William & Ruth Moynihan

Gordon & Sally Muir

John & Helen Mulkern

Kaj & Danielle Munic

Stephen & Louise Muniz

Daniel & Renee Murphy

Margaret Nagy

Mark & Letitia Naigles

Joseph Narkawicz

Paula J. Newman & Joseph

Narowski

William & Constance Neal

Donna Nicolino

Joseph & Kathryn Niemasik

Maria Niles

Victoria Nimirowski & Brian

Anderson

Patrick Small & Lori Nolin

Edward & Margaret Norris

Carol North

Laureen Novak

Elsa Nunez

Dennis O'Brien & Susan

Johnson

Robert & Margaret Oconnell

William & Caryl Okeefe

Paul Ashton & Susan

Oldershaw

David & Teresa Olio

George & Janet Oliver

Etienne & Kathleen Olivier

Nelson & Stephanie Orringer

Fred & Kathleen Otter

Robert & Frances Owens

Rosemary Pachesa

Jane Paine

Anne Palmer

Doris Palmer

Janice Palmer

Michael & Michele Palmer

Joseph Pandolfo

Ralph & Anne Pappalardo

Mark & Christine Paquette

Carol Parda-ziolka

Nancy Parker

Douglas Parks

Robert & Karen Paruolo

Dorrie Patera

Leonard Patera

Pattacini Household

Paul Brozdowski Attorney

Nancy Paulhus

Teresa Paventi

Helen Paxson Waicunas

James & Kristine Payant

Francis & Marjorie Pearson

Edward Peavy & Rebecca

Reno

Roger & Patricia Pelkey

Carol Pellegrine

Paul & Christine Pelletier

Marie Pellizari

Ellen Peloquin

Esteban Perez

Ugo & Kathleen Perini

Francis Perrotti

Alan & Gail Perry

James & Margaret Perry

Benjamin Peters & Lori Arpin

Peters Household

Joseph & Marsha Peters

Ivars & Meredith Petersons

Nancy Pettitt & Michael

Callahan

Richard & Christine Philps

Jeannette Picard

Robert & Diane Pisker

Edward & Clara Pitkin

Francis Archambault &

Barbara Pivarnik

Emil Pocock

Cherie Poirier

Rita Pollack

Gerald & Elyse Poller

Carol Polsky

John & Sandra Popeleski

John & Karen Porter

Rav Jeremy Schwartz & Merle

Potchinsky

John Potvin

Michael & Anita Powers

William & Candace Powers

John & Karri Prandy

Barbara Presson

Steven Knauf & Judith Prill

Joan Quarto

Patrice & Anita Ramm

Kenneth & Karin Randolph

Richard & Marjorie Ranger

Howard & Alice Raphaelson

Theodore & Jo-Ann

Rapphahn

David & Bertha Rappe

Barbara Rascona & Bruce

Sheridan

Anthony & Anne Rash

Robert & Diane Rasicot

Khurshed Rastomji & Della

Hennelly

Howard & Melissa Rath

Karen Ravenelle-Bloom

James & Patricia Raynor

PAGE 6

Elizabeth Regan

Francis & Johanna Reilly

James & Karen Renfro

Carl & Marian Rettenmeyer

Charles & Virginia Reviczky

Melinda Reviczky

Michael Rice

John & Grace Riesen

Peter Rimkus

Daniel & Linda Riquier

Rita Risley

Marie Ann Rittweger

Richard Clarke & Pamela

Louise Roberts

AnneMarie Robertson

Stephen & Rebecca

Robichaud

Belle Robinson

Elizabeth Robinson

John & Paula Robinson

Michael & Kathleen Romeo

Sandra Rosado

Mark & Helen Ross

Sandra Roth

Jean Rotter

Donald & Yolande Rubb

Chauncy & Nancy Rucker

Marcia Rudge

Richard & Sally Ruef

Ted & Cindy Rummel

James & Deborah Russel

James & Gisele Russo

William & Bonnie Ryan

Ben & Jacqueline Sachs

Richard & Louise Sage

Valerie Sakowski

Paul & Joann Sandshaw

Bob & Marie Santa

Ed & Jean Sawicki

Gerald Sazama

David & Deborah Scanlon

William Scanlon

Jacobus & Mary Schaab

Deborah Schaffhauser

Howard & Bonnie Schiller

Richard Schimmelpfeng

Bernhard & Jane Schreiber

Jonathan & Elena Schreiber

Paul & Susan Schur

Steven & Roberta Schwane

Doris Angel Sciremammano

Louis & Karen Scotti

Charles Searing

T. & M. Seery

Kathleen Segerson & Anthony

Grosso

Jacqueline Seide

Florence Selleck

Murphy Sewall & Virginia

Fulton

Beverly Shafer

Eleanor Shane

Carol Shapiro

Paul & Annette Shapiro

James & Susan Sharpley

Ann Shea

John & Rita Sheetz

Jaclyn Sheldon

Shirley May Shepard

Todd & Paula Shepard

Tyler & Julia Sherman

Shieber Household

Philip & Jo-Ann Shine

Benjamin & Catherine Shires

Stuart Jay & Joan Seliger

Sidney

Anne Silloway

Carol Silva

Barbara Simmons

Bruce Bernstein & Helen

Simonowitz

William & Doreen Simonsen

Joan Simpson

Beverly Sims

Nicholas & Dorothy Sinchuk

David Skeels & Patricia

Regan

George & Madeline Skinner

Randy & Denise Bergeron-

Skoly

Elinor Skoog

Patricia Slater

Nancy Smagacz

Dorothy Smith

Jeffrey & Mary Bray Smith

Jerome & Myriam Smith

Marjorie Smith

Mark & Deborah Smith

Michael & Sarah Smith

Paul & Laura Smith

Thomas & Eileen Smith

Tiffany Smith

Edward Soboleski

David Sonstroem

Anne Soracchi

William & Sherri Sowik

Philip & Susan Spak

Elizabeth Sparks

Roland C. Spigarolo

E.Spitia

Dale & Marilyn Spooner

Virginia Stallman

Robert Starkey

Marion Stearns

Martha Stebner

Ken Dardick & Judy Stein

Phyllis Stensl &

Carl Sternat

Cynara Stites

Donald & Barbara Stitts

David & Deborah Stoloff

David & Melissa Stone

Bill Stover & Leslie Poulos

William L & William K Strand

Lucas & Kathleen Strunk

Mark & Wentworth Strunk

Stukel Household

Ligita Stukuls

Edward & Shirley Sullivan

Patricia Suprenant

Natalie & Condon Swanson

Tim & Ginger Swanson

Lesley Sweeney

John & Gail Switchenko

Patricia & Gregory Padick

Swords

Anthony Sylvester

Clarence & Ann Sylvester

Mike & Cathy Sypher

Sophie Tabor

Patricia Tanaka

Helen Tangari

Len & Barbara Tartaglia

Russell & Lisa Taylor

Donald & Susan Tepas

Jay Terbush

Tom & Lee Terry

Carol Tetzlaff

Richard & Anne Theriault

Susanna Thomas

Arlene Thompson

Avery & Cynthia Tillinghast

George & Valerie Timmins

Leonard & Virginia Todd

Audrey & Burr Tomlinson

Jing Tong

James & Kristen Tracy

John & Jennifer Traynor

Jeanne Tucker

Gregory & Jan Turansky

Anne & George Turcotte

Peter & Lisa Turgeon

Ruth Phelan Twomey

Susana Ulloa

Christine Vagell

Matthew & Wendy Vahlsing

Samuel Martinez & Monica

Vanbeusekom

Jeffrey Vegiard

Cynthia Vertefeuille

Alfred & Judith Vezina

Donald & Rita Vigneau

Ronald & Susan Vigue

Donna Vose

R. M. and Jane Wadsworth

Barbara Waldron

David & Jodi Walencewicz

Matthew & Michelle Wallace

Susan Wandell

Clifford & Vera Ward

Lisa Ward

Theresa Wassenberg

Susan Wasstrom

Gregory & Karen Watson

Paul & Patricia Watson

Watt-Welch Household

Terry & Joan Webster

Ed & Mary Wehrle

Robin Weiner

Mary & Tim Weinland

Alicia Welch

Pamela & Teply Wells

F H Wemple Jr

Helen & Linda Wenner

Roberta West

Donald & Diana Wetherell

James & Brenda Whalen

John & Christina Wheaton

Mary White

Nancy Whitehouse

John & Marjorie Wieczorek

Dana & Aliza Wilder

Robyn & Kalen Wilgus

Michael & Anne Willenborg

George & Gerry Williams

Jean Williams

Richard Williams

Ronald & Linda Williams

Marilyn Wilson

Jasmine Wolf

Richard & Lois Wolf

Paula Wollman

David Wollner

Andrew Woodcock &

Lynne Ide

Thomas & Tina Woodcock

Woods Household

Charles & Frances Woody

Diane Wright

Loretta Wrobel

Bob Wyss & Dianne Sprague

Terry & Dana Yanaway

Rudolph & Marie Yarnott

David & Suzanne Yeo

Lyle & Joanne Yorks

David & Martha Yutzey

Linda Zaccaro

Ellen Zahl

Richard Zawalich

Kathleen Ryan & William

Zenko

Gary & Karen Zimmer

Joseph & Susan Ziobrowski

Douglas & Deborah Zlatin

Kudzai Zvoma

Faith Communities Church of The Holy Family

Colchester Federated Church

Columbia Congregational

Church

Congregational Church of

Scotland

Ebenezer Lutheran Church

First Baptist Church of

Lebanon

First Baptist Church of

Mansfield

First Church of Christ

Congregational UCC

First Congregational Church

of Coventry

First Congregational Church

Willimantic

First United Methodist Church

of Willimantic

Hampton Congregational

Church

Holy Trinity Orthodox Church

Mansfield Christian

Fellowship

Roman Catholic Church of

St. Mary

Second Congregational

Church Coventry

St. Joseph's Catholic Church

St. Mark's Chapel

St. Maurice Church

St. Paul's Episcopal Church of

Windham

St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel

Storrs Community Church

Storrs Congregational Church

The Federated Church of

Willington

Businesses A & B Auto Salvage

A & B Scrap Metal LLC

Accent Carpet & Tile

Ampersand Consulting

Annie E Vinton School Staff

Bank of America

Brennan Electric

Competitive Resources Inc.

Curriculum Research &

Evaluation, Inc.

Denis Electric

General Cable

Green Building Solutions Inc .

John's Scrap Metal

Landon's Tire Inc.

Lantern Energy

McClintock Roofing Llc

On Target Marketing &

Communications LLC

Renette's Hair Boutique

Sun On 6 Tanning &

Consignment

The Hartford

The National Institute For The

Clinical Application of

Behavioral Medecine

The White Rabbit

Travelers

Victory Energy Solutions

Weston's Antiques

Willimantic Donuts, Inc.

Foundations Aetna Foundation

Community Foundation of

Eastern Connecticut

Women & Girl’s Fund

Community Foundation of

Eastern Connecticut

Guilford Smith Charitable

Trust

Hall Foundation

Jeffrey P Ossen Family

Foundation

Liberty Bank Foundation

Savings Institute Foundation

SBM Charitable Foundation

The Prudential Foundation

Matching Gifts

Travelers Community

Connections

United Technologies

Matching Gift Program

Organizations Altrusa

American Truck Historical

Society

BPOE Elks Willimantic Lodge

1311

Dailygood By Goodsearch

First Mile Llc

Franco American Civic &

Social Inc .

Knights of Columbus Council

6199

Mansfield Lions Club

Mansfield Middle School

Students

Next Step Living Inc

Poor Old Shine

Safe Havens Inc.

Soroptimist International,

Willimantic

St. Pauly Textile East, Inc.

SUOAF-AFSCME ECSU

Chapter

The Local Table Project

Tolland High School

Town of Mansfield

Tree Wardens of CT Assoc.

University of Conn. League

Willimantic Food Co-op

Willimantic Lions Club

Charities

Willimantic Rotary Club

Windham County Bar Assoc.

Windham High School

Students

United Way AT&T United Way

PAGE 7

Dominion Employee Giving

Program

GE United Way Campaign

ING Employee Giving

Middlesex United Way

Pfizer Foundation United Way

Campaign

United Way of Central &

Northeastern Connecticut

United Way of Greater

Philadelphia & SNJ

United Way of Massachu-

setts Bay & Merrimack Valley

United Way of Pioneer Valley

United Way of West Central

Connecticut

In Honor of Adrienne Marks

Ann Shea

Anna & Peter Crawford

Mr. & Mrs. Saul Nesselroth

Anniversary

Bernice's birthday

Carol & Saul Nesselroth's

Anniversary

Carol A. Wiggins

Carol Ingraham

David W Yutzey & Lisa Pane

Diane Sprague & Bob Wyss

Diane Wright

Dick & Jane Wadsworth

Dick & Mavis Sturm

Dr. J. Grady Benson & Staff,

.Orthopedic Assoc. of Hartford

Easter

Fred & Shannon & William

Oliver

Genevieve Micali

Georgina Hendrick

Grace Adams

Gregory Bailey

Jack & Cathy Mozzicato

Jeffrey DeLuca 70th birthday

Jeri & Wayne Diederich

Joan Allison

Joan Cole 80th birthday

Joe & Donna McLaughlin

Jonathan Schreiber Happy

44th Birthday

Katherine E. Yutzey & Brian

Keane

Kay Zartun

Lenny Patera

Lucy DeLuca Birthday &

Anniversary

Marie & Gerry Liskom &

Megan & Adrian Baker

Michael & Linda Gardner

Mr. & Mrs. Luke Strunk

Mrs. Hollis Fait (Gladine)

Mrs. Sam Shepardson

Ms. Charlene Perry

Nancy & Chauncey Rucker

Passover Let all who are

hungry come and eat.

Pellegrine-Dioguardi Family

Phyllis Stensland

Purim

Ralph Marshall

Renee & Dan Murphy

Resurection Day

Richard Cheney birthday

Ruth Yeo

Sarah Moon &Daniel Warren

Marriage

Shuvuot sheaves gathered &

Torah given at Mt Sinai

Susan Hewes

The Pellegrine Grandchildren

Trish Goba-Churchill

Volunteers

In Memory of A J Chiulli

Al Morgan

Alfred Thomas Morgan

Alice Bertha Jansen's father

All Veterans

Alva Robertson

Ann Jerue

Anna Sell

Arthur F. Connor

Baron & Elinor Bray

Bernadette Ellis, WAIM

volunteer

Bill Lonergan

Bridget S. Harold

Buck & Natalie Monty

Butch & Holly Holl

Carol Welt

Charles J. Corcoran

Christopher J. Gaffney

David

Denise Beal

Dom Tecesco

Dorr & Lydia Skeels

Doug Morgan

Dr. Frank Bird

Edward N. S. & Shaw Sr.

Eleanor Plank

Elisabeth Millette

Ethan Kokoska

Eugene J. Alassi

Francis W. Hayes

Frank & Margaret Mayshar

Fred Gifford

George Higginbotham

George Kibbe

Germaine Hall

Grace F Enggas

Hans Sells

Helen & Marian Narkawicz

Hilda Iris Negron

Howard & Harriet Cody

Howard & Joyce Fairweather

Irving & Janet Griffin

James & Stanley Romanow

James Toner

Jan Scottron

Joan Joffe Hall

Jody Newmyer

Joe & Yvonne Lemieux

John & Rita Cignoni

John A. Holzbar, Jr.

Jonah D. Gilbert

Joseph & Marsha Peters'

Parents & Family

Josephine Griffin

Joyce & Howard Fairweather

Joyce Cale

Joyce Peters

Julie Rogers

Kathleen Sanelli

Kristine Della Fera

Linda Lee Lataille

Linda Savage

Louise Garnaccia

Lucianne & George Elmore

Lynette Hagen Doeg

Madga Manfred

Marian Trexler Krum

Marjorie Myers Ginn

Mary Alassi

Mary Ellen Strand

Mary Jacobs

Mary Starkey Jefferson

Nadja Donelly

Nancy Aramini

Nancy Murray

Olive Bayless

Olive Peters & Sokolowski

family

Omer H. Norton Jr.

Orra Mott

Paige Houston

Paul Maciuika

Paul R. Caron

Peggy Davis

Ray Corcoran

Raymond F. Andrews III

Raymond G Lemaire

Robert Bowen

Rose & Richard Platt

Rose Garelick

Roy W McLain

Rufus Blanshard

Ruth Castelli

Sophie Nessel

Stephen Godere

Sue Graham & Eric Kalber

Reverend George K. Evans

Thomas Bull

Thomas J. Burke

Wally Niemasik

SAVE SOME CASH….Did you know that if you open a TD Bank Checking, Savings, Money Market of Certificate of Deposit ac-

count, or if you are already a TD Bank customer, you can raise funds for WAIM simply by saving! Choose WAIM as your Affinity

Organization, and you will help us raise funds for our work. Stop by or Call Carol Polsky at the TD Bank Mansfield Store, 860

465-2782, and let her know you’re interested in supporting WAIM.

SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY...This Fall, WAIM and other United Way partners will be visiting workplaces across the 40-town

capital region to raise funds and awareness of the many different programs supported by United Way. Thousands of people

benefit from United Way funding, and your donation touches the lives of many in need, here in Willimantic and beyond. As a

member agency, WAIM receives a fixed amount of allocated funds from the United Way as long as our programs perform up to

their standards. We also receive a substantial amount of funding through donor designations. Please consider making a

donation to the United Way Campaign at your workplace. If you donate to the community fund, United Way

will use your donation to fund programs and initiatives that have proven success in their areas of expertise.

You may also choose WAIM to be a recipient by using code 5111 on the Employee Giving Form.

LEAVE A LEGACY...As much as we hope that in thirty years there won’t be a need for organizations like WAIM, our experience

tells us that there will always be people who have lost their jobs, who are living with a disability, or fleeing a domestically violent

situation; those who are newcomers to the area and those who have just weathered a family crisis. We hope that WAIM will be

there to offer a hand up to these people just like we’ve been there for the thousands of people who have received WAIM’s help

over the past thirty years. If you are interested in leaving a legacy gift to WAIM to help ensure that our services are available for

the next generation, please contact Victoria Nimirowski at 860 456-7270.

Plan for the future….

Non-Profit Organization US Postage Paid Willimantic, CT 06226 Permit No. 84

WAIM P.O. Box 221 (for all mail) 866 Main Street Willimantic, CT 06226-0221

From a partner provider: I met with one of my clients today for their first time. Her life is really challenging but she is really working

hard to better everything. She is a single mom with three children one has Autism. This women spent 14 years in an abusive relationship with her partner who has no interest in taking responsibility for his children. She has made such progress in the barriers she has had to overcome including sexual assault and physical abuse by parents. She reported that her family has no home PC. I was wondering if I could call on you once again to request her access to WAIM. (WAIM is in the process of putting a system together for this client.)

Ann (not her real name) is a recently divorced mother of four. Her ex-husband was delinquent in his child support payments and she began falling behind with her bills. She was also recently diagnosed with a debilitating illness and could no longer work. A homeowner who has worked hard all her life, Ann never imagined herself in this situation. She was worried about losing her home and taking care of her children, but she had no idea how to get help. She finally came to WAIM where she got 100 gallons of oil delivered to her home, and funding for her electric bill. WAIM staff walked her through an on-line benefit survey and found she was eligible for SNAP (formerly food stamps) and also referred her to another community partner for foreclosure assistance. She left WAIM hopeful, wearing a smile and crying tears of relief.

Last Fiscal Year….

8,006 visits were made to WAIM for clothing.

10,905 units of material goods (clothing, furniture, appliances, etc.) were given to community members.

1,011 donation pick-ups were made using our truck.

374 households received energy assistance – heat or electricity.

188 households received case management or connection to other services.

79 families were adopted through our Adopt-A-Family program

87 children selected holiday gifts for their caregivers through For Kids Only.

81 teenagers received holiday vouchers through Gifts for Teens.

395 children received Back-to-School vouchers for new clothes.

145 low-income households received emergency help for unmet needs, rental or transportation assistance.

225 individuals Walked for Warmth.

633 people volunteered 9,619 hours - the equivalent of 5 full time employees.

The mission of the Windham Area Interfaith Ministry is to uplift and unite our community by providing caring service and resources to meet our neighbors’ needs with dignity and respect.