WAIM 2013 newsletter

8
FALL 2013 Windham Area Interfaith Ministry WAIM news WAIM has heroes. Three women have helped many folks do the impossible… like start a home with nothing. You must know they exist, because so many mira- cles happen at WAIM eve- ry day. Assisting with the basic living needs are WAIM staff members Eve- lyn Solla, Linda Zaccaro, and Neenah Shafer. Almost 20 years ago, Neenah Shafer came to volunteer to “give back” to the community. After volunteering for a while, she was offered part time work, and today she is the Material Goods (MG) Manager and Community Garden Coordinator. She admires it when commu- nity folks help each other. “I like the idea of accept- ing things from the com- munity and then giving them away to people who need them” she says. As MG Manager, she organ- izes the literally tons of furniture donations from lamps to sofa beds. Calls come in for her at a rapid pace from people who need a specific item and from those who want to have a large donation picked up. Sometimes they match, but most of the time items arrive on the River Street dock be- hind the building and get displayed for clients to choose from. Now that there’s a truck, Neenah says, certain big items can be picked up, making it easier for people to do- nate. Sometimes after hours and on weekends, folks leave donations out- side, but these items of- ten find their way to the dump as they are often picked through, rained on or otherwise soiled over night. The furniture alone is a fulltime job, but Neenah also manages the WAIM Community Garden at Lauter Park. There are 20 individual plots for folks to rent, plus a com- munal garden, where pro- duce is donated to the Covenant Soup Kitchen. Imagine trying to keep all those gardeners straight! It is similar to how Linda Zaccaro has to keep all the volunteers straight. Linda too started as a volunteer in 2007. Her title now is Case Man- ager/Volunteer Coordina- tor. She says she “lived the system” and came to WAIM because she “wanted to give back to the people who helped me…they were so wonder- ful.” As Case Manager, she helps connect peo- ple to available services. There are always people waiting at Linda’s door while she is working with someone else. Linda would like to go further with her clients, like help- ing them with budgeting. “People have a crisis and they don’t know what to do.” She is stretched thin now, but if WAIM had more resources, we could provide clients more indi- vidualized help. There’s always too much to do, but, as Linda says, “We do what we can with love and compassion.” Anoth- er large part of her job is coordinating the volun- teers. WAIM runs on vol- unteer support—usually 25-30 volunteers each day. Sometimes they (continued on page 6) (Continued on page 6) 1,030 students received vouchers for school uni- forms or new clothes through WAIM’s Back To School Program Linda Zaccaro, Case Manager/Volunteer Coordinator, Neenah Shafer, Furniture Coordinator/Community Garden Manager, & Evelyn Solla, Assistant Director Everyday Heroes At WAIM

Transcript of WAIM 2013 newsletter

Page 1: WAIM 2013 newsletter

FALL 2013 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

WAIM news

WAIM has heroes.

Three women have

helped many folks do

the impossible… like

start a home with nothing.

You must know they exist,

because so many mira-

cles happen at WAIM eve-

ry day. Assisting with the

basic living needs are

WAIM staff members Eve-

lyn Solla, Linda Zaccaro,

and Neenah Shafer.

Almost 20 years ago,

Neenah Shafer came to

volunteer to “give back”

to the community. After

volunteering for a while,

she was offered part time

work, and today she is the

Material Goods (MG)

Manager and Community

Garden Coordinator. She

admires it when commu-

nity folks help each other.

“I like the idea of accept-

ing things from the com-

munity and then giving

them away to people who

need them” she says. As

MG Manager, she organ-

izes the literally tons of

furniture donations from

lamps to sofa beds. Calls

come in for her at a rapid

pace from people who

need a specific item and

from those who want to

have a large donation

picked up. Sometimes

they match, but most of

the time items arrive on

the River Street dock be-

hind the building and get

displayed for clients to

choose from. Now that

there’s a truck, Neenah

says, certain big items

can be picked up, making

it easier for people to do-

nate. Sometimes after

hours and on weekends,

folks leave donations out-

side, but these items of-

ten find their way to the

dump as they are often

picked through, rained on

or otherwise soiled over

night. The furniture alone

is a fulltime job, but

Neenah also manages the

WAIM Community Garden

at Lauter Park. There are

20 individual plots for

folks to rent, plus a com-

munal garden, where pro-

duce is donated to the

Covenant Soup Kitchen.

Imagine trying to keep all

those gardeners straight!

It is similar to how Linda

Zaccaro has to keep all

the volunteers straight.

Linda too started as a

volunteer in 2007. Her

title now is Case Man-

ager/Volunteer Coordina-

tor. She says she “lived

the system” and came to

WAIM because she

“wanted to give back to

the people who helped

me…they were so wonder-

ful.” As Case Manager,

she helps connect peo-

ple to available services.

There are always people

waiting at Linda’s door

while she is working with

someone else. Linda

would like to go further

with her clients, like help-

ing them with budgeting.

“People have a crisis and

they don’t know what to

do.” She is stretched thin

now, but if WAIM had

more resources, we could

provide clients more indi-

vidualized help. There’s

always too much to do,

but, as Linda says, “We

do what we can with love

and compassion.” Anoth-

er large part of her job is

coordinating the volun-

teers. WAIM runs on vol-

unteer support—usually

25-30 volunteers each

day. Sometimes they (continued on page 6)

(Continued on page 6) 1,030 students received

vouchers for school uni-

forms or new clothes

through WAIM’s Back To

School Program

Linda Zaccaro, Case Manager/Volunteer Coordinator,

Neenah Shafer, Furniture Coordinator/Community Garden

Manager, & Evelyn Solla, Assistant Director

Everyday Heroes

At WAIM

Page 2: WAIM 2013 newsletter

WAIM N EWS PAGE 2

WAIM’s Programs ...SPREAD THE WORD!

Energy Assistance

Material Goods

Partners in Independence

Seasonal Programs

Transportation Assistance

Unmet Needs

Women and Children Fund

Community Garden

Visit our website:

www.waimct.org for more details.

Her students brought her. The kids were in the Coventry

High Special Education Summer Program. Being at WAIM was

love at first sight for Vocational Trainer Karen Bohr. Theresa

Breaux, Vocational Trainer for Coventry High School arranged for

WAIM to host the summer school program for three stu-

dents. The goal was to teach socialization skills, and the stu-

dents learned well, but Karen learned even better. She says she

“fell in love with the whole process” of WAIM—the acceptance of

goods, and the giving of goods… mostly the giving. She worked

alongside her students three days a week, both sorting clothes

and in the pantry giving away the basic needs of daily life.

When the program ended at the end of July, Karen

“couldn’t cut myself off from it and decided to continue. Why?

The people. Carmen makes you smile, and I love

Gen” (Genevieve) . “Evelyn, Victoria and Linda are always so ap-

preciative.”

Karen’s favorite job is working with the clothes. Making

them neat on the racks and “having shoes match!” She said that

to respect WAIM clients, it is important to make the place where

they shop as close to looking like a store atmosphere as possi-

ble. Karen says that “everybody needs help at some time” in

their life. Her husband Tim was jobless for 1 ½ years until last

February when he became Student Supervisor at Coventry High

School. Now the Bohr family gets to travel to school together

each day.

WAIM couldn’t run without its volunteers, Director Victo-

ria Nimirowski says. Every day there are volunteers working in

every area from the dock to the computers (35-40 per month).

There’s a job for anyone who wants to help. “Thank goodness

we have so many schools around, because the students can do

most anything,” Victoria says, “and people from our 40 member

faith communities come on Saturdays, and some come back on

week-days. “ Some volunteers stay for a very long time, like Gen-

evieve, who organizes the baby and children’s area, and has for

22 years.

Karen loves WAIM so much she brought her family and a

friend. Her mother Donna, husband Tim, son Alex (14), daughter

Jenna (12), and her friend Janet. They all loved WAIM volunteer-

ing too, and friend Janet says she will continue to come. Karen

likes Wednesdays in particular, because she can go through the

racks and take out anything stained, and make everything neat.

Meanwhile, her family has been hanging clothes furiously until

the mountain of clothing that was there was finally gone! Tim

was pleased with their work too, and said “look, we filled the

men’s section.”

But the school year has begun at Coventry High, and the

Bohr family had to go. But Karen cannot leave; she’ll be back on

Saturdays when she can. It’s because of her love of “doing some-

thing wonderful for people who are wonderful.”

“WAIM Just Makes My

Heart Feel Good”

Karen Bohr, front center. From left to right, Karen’s

friend Jan Bessett, her niece Stephanie Bohr, husband

Tim, son Alex and daughter Jenna

Besides dressing people for the job market, WAIM’s Career Closet also has a nice

stock of wedding dresses and formal wear available.

Page 3: WAIM 2013 newsletter

WA IM NEWS

Many thanks to the individuals, congregations and organizations who donate to WAIM on a regular basis. You and our

volunteers are the heart and soul of our mission. The following donors have made at least one financial contribution dur-

ing the past fiscal year, July 1 2012 through June 30, 2013. 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.

WAIM N EWS PAGE 3

Individuals & Families Grace Adams

Kenneth & Cinnamon Adams

Priscilla Adams

Luis & Maria Aguilar

William & Sylvia Aho

Philip Yeagle & Arlene Albert

Linda Albright

Regina Alfieri

George & Lynne Allen

Michael Amd Marcia Allen

Polly Allen

Jeanne Allie

John Allie

Michael & Edith Allison

Roy & Nancy Allison

Theodore & Linda Almquist

Jonathan Andersen

Cynthia Anderson

Paul Anderson

William Anderson & Timothy

Grogan

Andrew & Sherry Andrews

Arthur Wood & Annamarie An-

drews

Bea Andrews

Elizabeth Andrews

Susan Angelides

Anonymous

Andrew Ansaldi

Richard & Elaine Anselmo

Charles & Ethel Anthes

Naida Arcenas

Estelle Armstrong

Helen Armstrong

Lawrence Armstrong

Patricia Asher

L & G Ash-Morgan

Janet Atkins

Bernard & Anne Auger

Ed & Faith Austin

Warren & Laura Austin

Charles & Deborah Avila

Joseph & Janice Bacewicz

Theresa Bacon

Leon & Malta Bailey

William Bailey

Maura Baker

Ronald & Patricia Baker

Erin Ballou

Gene & Audrey Barbaret

Delphine Barrett

Philip & Lena Barry

Yaakov & Eva Bar-shalom

Susan Bartholomew

Richard & Sharon Bartlett

John & Jeannette Bartok

Deborah Barton

David & Cynthia Bass

David & Susan Bass

Noah & Doris Bassett

Robert & Susan Esty Bauer

Andrew & Barbara Baylock

Stephanie Bayne

Michael & Dyan Beaton

J Beaulieu & M A Dickinson

Marion Beausoleil

Curt Beck

Terri Beck

Susan Becker

William & Barbara Becker

Glory Beer

Catherine Belanger

Ronald & Judith Belek

William & Paula Belekewicz

Ellen J Bell

Nelida Beltran

David & Pamela Benson

Gary & Gloria Bent

Jacquelyn Bergeron

Granville & Ursula Beschler

Gerald & Cecile Bienvenue

Stanley & Patricia Biggs

Kenneth & Jeanine Billington

Linda Bird

Harry & Honey Birkenruth

Orest & Charlene Bishko

Joseph & Adeline Bissonnette

David & Diana Blanchard

Jane Blanshard

Philip & Linda Blinn

Martin & Lnn Bloom

Thomas & Linda Blum

James & Jane Bobbitt

Benjamin Bolt

Georgianna & Costance Booth

Marcella Booth

Frederick & Linda Boothroyd

Eileen Furey & Shirley Boron

Helen Bosco

James Boster & Cornelia Dayton

Charles & Carole Boster

John Bova

Gene & Frania Bowen

Larry Bowman

Peter & Jennifer Bradshaw

Katherine Brady

Dudley & Barbara Brand

John & Elaine Brand

Marina Brand

Martha Braun

Michael & Margaret Breen

Maryanne Brennan

Patrick & Maria Brennan

Eric Briggs

Walter & Carol Briggs

John & Cynthia Brinkman

Eben & Trudy Brockett

David & Ellen Faith Brodie

Martin & Suzanne Brogie

Jennifer Brokaw

Jane Brosnan

Rheo & Faith Brouillard

Earl & Shirley Brown

Cindy Brown

George & Pamela Brown

Kevin & Cheryl Brown

Lynn & Marjorie Brown

Patricia Brown

Richard & Irene Brown

C & T Bruckerhoff

Thomas & Gail Bruhn

David & Nancy Bull

Hill & Andrea Bullard

Patricia Bullock

John & Karen Burnham

Morris & Arlene Burr

John Burton

Mark Busa & Mary Rose Meade

George & Colette Butterick

Norman Caisse

Marjorie Caldwell

Elizabeth Cameron

Bruce & Marcia Campbell

George Campbell

Leo & Patricia Campbell

Sharon Canny

Linda Card

Susan Carpenter

Priscilla Carroll

Joseph & Edith Cary

Peter & Theresa Casey

Thomas & Rachel Casey

Donald & Janice Castle

Steven Cervizzi

Stella Chabot

Daniel Chace

Robert & Jacqueline Chalifoux

Celeste Champion

Paulette Chandler

Daniel & Lori Chapman

Jason & Suzanne Charron

Joseph & Elizabeth Charron

Sharon Chesler

Alec & Dorothy Chesmer

Edmond & Amy Chibeau

Anna Chick

Ty & Erin Christopher

Warren & Marguerite Church

Susan Chvirko

John & MaryEllen Cillizza

Boguslaw & Beverly Ciurylo

David & Nancy Clapp

Steven & Janet Clapp

John & Belinda Clark

Rebecca Clark & Daniel Long

Wendy Clifton

Christine Coates

Walter & Carol Cochran

Robert & Helen Coffey

Jill Coghlan

Lois Coleman

David & Carol Coley

Jack & Jane Collins

Thomas & Elizabeth Collins

Eileen Colwell

Judith Conland

Wanda Connor

Shirley Corcoran

David Corsini & Delia Berlin

Alfred & Marianne Cote'

Norman & Laurie Cote

Doris Cottrell

Terry & Debby Coyne

Stanley & Susan Crawford

Ronald & Marsha Creese

Bruce & Jill Currier

William & Mary Curtin

Michael & Susan Cutlip

Peter & Cynthia Czarnecki

Andrzej & Anna Czercowy

Eli Dabora

Margaret Daly

Andrew & Dexene D'Appollonio

Nicholas & Joann Davirro

Debra Davis

Ridgway & Margaret Davis

Robert & Megan Dawe

Richard & Jeanette Day

Ronald & Janet De Carolis

Peg Deforge

Emmet & Judith DelGaizo

Michael & Kristine Della Fera

Jeffrey & Lucy DeLuca

Roger & Margaret Demers

Steven & Lois DeMurjian

Jean Denapoli

Diane Denunzio

Daniel & Kathie Deptula

Joseph & Elaine DeSilva

Robert Hackemack & Jean

DeSmet

John & Susan DeWolf

Ed Di Giovanni & Catherine

Rowe

Donald Diange

Zoila Diaz

Richard & Karen Dibala

Bruce & Nancy Dickerman

Alex & Susan Dickinson

Alex Dickinson

Peter & Nora Ann Dickinson

Wayne & Jeri Diederich

Arthur & Christine Dimock

Paulla Dixon

Paul Dmytrasz

Kenneth Doeg

David & Joan Doiron

Michael & Erin Dombkowski

Kathleen Donahue

Mark & Patricia Donahue

James & Judith Donnelly

Maryellen Donnelly

Peter & Beatrice Donohue

Edward & Violet Dorgan

Bruce & Michele Dougherty

Paul Doyle & Steven Lain

Judith Doyle

Patrick & Amanda Doyle

Elaine Drew

Robert & Lynne Druge

A R & M G DuBois

Lorraine Dubois

Robert & Patricia Dubos

Kathleen Duchesne

Linda Duckstein

Gwen Duff

Diane Duhamel

Raymond & Anne Dumont

Scott & Amy Dunstan

Paul & Diane Duva

Charles Dyson

Eva Eaton

Rebecca Eckert

Walter & Mary Ellen Elwell

Kristin Emmons

Gregory & Heidie Endrelunas

David & Grace Enggas

Susan England

Paula Engler

Patrick & Kimberly Enright

Lynn Ereshena-Manning

Mary Ertel

Bernard Estey

Samuel & Mary Eurich

Harry & Susan Evageliou

Brendan Evans

George & Mary Evans

Charles Everett

Michael Coyne & Susannah

Everett

Janice Falade

Paul & Kathleen Farley

Jennifer Fellows

Thomas & Jane Fenton

Andrea & Michele Fesenmeyer

Jacquelyn Fettig

Joslyn & Josephine Field

Richard & Denise Filthaut

Stephen & Marlyn Fiori

Calvin & Carole Fish

Frank & Anne Fitzpatrick

Nicole Lintereur & Mark Flinn

Bertrand & Marguerite Flynn

Lawrence & Nancy Flynn

Millicent Flynn

Wayne & Diane Flynn

Deniz & Carol Fonseca

Donald & Mary Kay Fontaine

Patricia Forkner

John Fortunato & Elizabeth

Aschenbrenner

David & Susan Fowler

George & Josephine Fox

Margaret Fox

Karla Fox

Janis Franklin

Ivan & Barbara Franson

Todd & Mona Friedland

Sandra Frizzell

F L & C E Funk

John & Carole Furey

Jonathan & Betsy Furst

Robert & Kathe Gable

Mark & Christine Gadarowski

Patricia Gaenzler

Timothy & Danielle Galligan

Lorraine B. Gallup

Richard Gallup

Laurent & Mariel Gamache

Adam & Virginia Gantick

Louise Garabedian

Leon & Betty Gardner

David & Janet Garson

Joelen Gates

Harry & Ann Gaucher

Harry & Camille Gaucher

Thomas Gauthier

Susan Gavitt

Ted & Mary Gawlicki

Danny & Judy Gebben

Elizabeth Geissler

P A Geissler

Kathleen Gerber

Valerie Botta & Bruce Gerber

Marilyn Gerling

Joan Gibson

Dorothy Gifford

Richard & Diane Giggey

George & Joan Gilbransen

Ellen Marie Gillette

Otis & Dorothy Gilliam

Patricia Gilligan

Warren & Lisa Gilmour

Thomas & Marilyn Giolas

Davita Glasberg

Joan Russoniello Goba

Randy & Janice Godaire

Richard & Karen Godere

Eric Goldberg & Katherine Bohr

Robert & Alice Goldberg

Dulce Goldenberg

Ronald & Carol Goldstein

Juan & Carla Gomez

Paul & Merrilyn Goodwin

Sam Gordon

Kenneth Gouwens & Joan Mez-

nar

John Grady

Albert & Arlene Gray

Rene & Evelyn Grenier

C Walpole Griffin

Robert & Rebecca Grillo

Peter Grose & Margaret Ruth

Nye

Kevin & Shawn Grunwald

Felix & Judith Grzych

Wilfred & Jeanne Guerrette

Ernest & Bessie Gunn

John & Margaret Gustafson

AJR & Maisie Guttay

Jeanne Haas

William & Mary Haddad

Wayne & Loretta Haeger

David & Janet Haines

Roswell & Gretchen Hall

Jason & Annette Hamilton

Paul Hammett

Lois Happe

Karen Haraghey

Page 4: WAIM 2013 newsletter

WAIM N EWS PAGE 4

Donations continued

Albert & Linda Ann Harbec

Betty Harris-Perkinss

Matthew & Kara Hart

Sandra Hastings

Peggy Hawkins

Winston & Norma Hawkins

Chris Hawthorne

Anne Hayes

Stephen & Linda Hayes

William & Susan Hayes

Mary Hayes-Siegrist

Charlotte Hebert

Betty Heiss

Angela Hence

Georgina Hendrick

Janice Hendrickson

R Henning

Joseph & Cynthia Henry

Jeri Hepworth & Robert Ryder

Maryann Hickelton

Delbert & Rubi Hickson

Ann Higginbotham

Carol Higgins

Charles & Maria Higgins

Lawrence & Gayle Hightower

Winthrop & Dolores Hilding

Kimberly Hill

Henry & Lynn Hinckley

William & Karen Hocking

John & Julia Hodgson

William & Marsha Hogue

Ronald & Carol Holman

Richard Hope

John & Judy Hopkins

Elisabeth Houle

Mark & Laurel Houle

Michael & Jane Howard

Davis & Donna Howell

Don & Jan Hoyle

Janet Huber

Jonathan Hufstader

James & Nancy Humphrey

James & Cecile Hurley

Huber & Cynthia Hurlock

Judith Hyde

Jerry & Stephanie Iazzetta

David & Tish Ignatowicz

Benjamin & Lucia Irizarry

Leonard & Sharon Jacobs

Patti-Ann Jajllardo

Norman & Jacqueline Janes

Alice Bertha Jansen

Victor & Genevieve Jarm

John & Rebecca Jarvis

Paul & Jeanne Jatkowski

Bahram & Bethany Javidi

Robert & Am&a Jellen

Ann Johnson

Harry Johnson

Jeanne Johnson

Keith & Marietta Johnson

Scott & Kaye Johnson

William & Patricia Johnson

Edwin & Irene Johnston

McTyeire & Melanie Johnston

Irene Jones

Janet Jones

Richard & Leigh Jones-Bamman

Daniel & Melissa Jordan

David & Carol Jordan

Raymond & Theresa KALBER

BetteJane Karnes

Shirley Kassman

Lewis & Shirley Katz

Denise Keane

Walter Keenan

Andrew & Sarah Keleher

Andrea Kelley

Martin & Karen Kelly

Ronald & Martha Kelly

Thomas & Heather Kelly

Maggie Kendis

Elizabeth Kennard

Roger & Cristina Kennedy

Sean & Catherine Kennelly

John & Kerttu Kersen

Quentin & Margaret Kessel

J H Or Dana Kessler

Lamia Khairallah

Timothy & Carol Killeen

Peter & Miriam Kimball

Arthur & Lesley Kirschenbaum

Thomas & Mary Klosowski

Charles & Charleen Knapp

Merritt & Linda Knight

Jim & Jane Knox

David & Dorothea Kohn

Carolyn Kokoska

Milton & Dorothy Kozelka

Henry & June Krisch

Marc Kronisch

Joseph & Geraldine Kuronya

K. Narayan Kutty

L & Beverly Young

Maurice & Mary Lacasse

James & Barbara Lacey

Robert & Beatrice LaCombe

Dennis & Marilyn Lacoss

Phyllis LaFlamme

Gregg & Linda LaFontaine

Jean & Donna Lafontaine

Patricia LaFrance

Vernon & Eldred Lamb

Wally & Christine Lamb

Raymonde Lambert

Thomas & Jacqueline Landrey

Geri Langlois & Sherry D'Ales-

sandro

Roger & Phyllis LaPierre

Katherine LaRiviere

Charles & Mildred Larkins

Richard & Carol Lavigne

Barbara Leary

Carolyn Lebeau

Robert & Jeanne Leduc

Andrew & Kristina Kyriacou Lee

Scott & Rebecca Lehmann

Parise LeMaire

Joseph Lemieux

David & Mary Jane Lenihan

Don Lepore & Maribeth Stearns

John Lepore

Brian & Margarita Lessard

Kenneth & Caroline Lester

Brian Levasseur

Eugene & Linda Lewis

Carl & Julia Lindquist

Barbara Lindsey

Gerald & Marie Liskom

Raymond & Bernice Lizee

William & Jean Lonergan

Richard & Mary Elizabeth Long

William & Patricia Long

Leanna Loomer

Thomas & Hollace Lorch

Thomas & Kathi Loto

James Loughead

Robin Lubatkin

Ann Lucente

Margaret Ludwig

Thomas Ludwig

Paul Luft

Sharon Lussier

Catherine Lynch

Gordo N & Bette McDonald

Benedict & Grazina Maciuika

David Magnuson

Robert & Stacy Malecki

Michael & Doreen Maloney

John & Madge Manfred

Madeleine Manning

Thomas & Marilee Thank In

January Manning

Paul & Adrienne Manzone

Adrienne Marks

Barbara Marshall

Charles & Mathilda Martin

Michael & Karen Martin

Harvey & Ellen Martineau

James & Janine Masso

Loris Masterton

Frank & Shirley Mauro

Kate May

Laurie Mazzarella Ganoe

John & Kimberly McAdam

Kevin McLaughlin & Sandra

McAlduff

Olive McCabe

Margaret McCarrick

Kevin & Jean Mccarthy

Joseph & Betty Mccartney

David & Judith McChesney

Cheryl McClain

Timothy McComiskey & Lesley

Gardner

John & Lisa McCormick

Peg & Terry McCormick

Janet McCulloch

William & Becky McEnery

James & Patricia McGill

John & Charleen McGill

John & Joan McGuire

Kerry Mcguire

Michael & Patricia McHugh

Richard & Marcella McKay

Richard & Kathleen McKee

John & Monica McKerracher

Anna McLain

Charles & Ruth McLaughlin

Joe & Donna McLaughlin

John & Janice McMahon

Carol McMillan

William & Meradith McMunn

James & Judith Meacham

Kathy Medbery

Jessica Medina

Robert & Dorothy Meek

Susan Meisler

Judith Melichar

Joseph Mellet

James & Cynthia Mello

Dorothea Mercier

Stephen Merlino & Kathleen

Mangiafico

Denise Merrill

John & Debra Merritt

Richard & Betty Merritt

Robert & Phyllis Meshanic

Gen Micali

David & Gerda Walz- Michaels

Stanley & Beverly Miela

Ronald & Adelle Milavsky

Marty Milkovic & Beth Bauer

Alan & Katherine Miller

Paul & Ginny Miller

Eugene & Jeannette Millette

Robert & Sandra Millholen

Laurie Millix

Peter Millman & Marie Cantino

Ida Millman

James & Karen Mindek

Martin & Michele Mlyniec

Sarah Mochel

Robin Monk

Philip & Jeanne Monty

Peter & Mary Moon

Terrence & Sharon Moore

Alex & Rosemary Morcellino

Charles & Noreen Morgan

William & Susan Morgan

William Reese Morgan

K Moriarty

Dennis & Linda Morin

Maria-ines Morris

Thomas & Sondra Morrison

James Morrow

Stanley & Cynthia Morytko

Linda Kaminski & Carol Moulton

Neil & Jane Moynihan

William & Ruth Moynihan

Gordon & Sally Muir

John & Helen Mulkern

Steven & Marie Mulkern

George Murdoch & Virginia Con-

land

Daniel & Renee Murphy

Pat & Bob Murphy

Russell & Sheila Murphy

Margaret Nagy

Mark & Letitia Naigles

Mark & Danitza Nall

Joseph Narkawicz

P J Newman & Joseph Narowski

Joann Nasin

Keith & Joyce Nasin

Beverly Nass

Yolanda Negron

Thomas & Nancy Neilan

Joan Newell

Donna Nicolino

Joseph & Kathryn Niemasik

Judith Niland

Maria Niles

Robert & Martha Nilsen

Victoria Nimirowski

Teri Nofer

Rosemary Noonan

Edward & Margaret Norris

Elizabeth Norris

Elsa Nunez

Dennis O'Brien & Susan Johnson

Robert & Margaret Oconnell

Paul Ashton & Susan Oldershaw

George & Janet Oliver

Etienne & Kathleen Olivier

Marjorie O'Loughlin

Anthony Opalacz

Nelson & Stephanie Orringer

Fred & Kathleen Otter

Ronald & Nancy Ouellette

Jane Paine

Anne Palmer

Don Palmer

Doris Palmer

Janice Palmer

Michael & Michele Palmer

Joseph Pandolfo

Evelyne Parizek

John & Frances Park

Nancy Parker

Gail Parks

Robert & Karen Paruolo

Leonard Patera

Mary Patrone-czaja

Silvio & Mary Pattacini

Nancy Paulhus

Daniel & Annette Pavone

Helen Paxson Waicunas

James & Kristine Payant

Francis & Marjorie Pearson

Edward Peavy & Rebecca Reno

Roger & Patricia Pelkey

Carol Pellegrine

David & Kathleen Pepin

Josephine Peretto

Thomas & Nancy Perkins

Alan & Gail Perry

Bridget Perry

Charlene Perry

James & Margaret Perry

Rod Perry

Benjamin Peters & Lori Arpin

Joseph & Marsha Peters

Sharen Peters

William & Eleanor Peters

Peter & Florence Petruchik

Nancy Pettitt & Micahel Callahan

Vernon & Mary Phelps

Jeannette Picard

Joseph Piela & Mary Jo Tryba

Robert & Diane Pisker

Edward & Clara Pitkin

Francis Archambault & Barbara

Pivarnik

Eleanor Plank

Emil Pocock

Elliott Pollack

Rita Pollack

Norman & Maureen Pollitt

Edward & Regina Pontbriant

Rav Jeremy Schwartz & Merle

Potchinski

John Potvin

Michael & Anita Powers

William & Candace Powers

John & Karri Prandy

Charles Prewitt

Marja Prewitt

Steven Knauf & Judith Prill

Matthew & Maria Proser

Steven & Sarah Proulx

Joan Quarto

Barbara Racansky

Elizabeth Rafter

Robert & Linda Rainwater

Richard & Marjorie Ranger

Howard & Alice Raphaelson

Theodore & Jo-Ann Rappahahn

David Rappe

Barbara Rascona & Bruce Sheri-

dan

Anthony & Anne Rash

Howard & Melissa Rath

Karen Ravenelle-Bloom

Richard & Gwen Reale

Ruth Reichel

James & Karen Renfro

Carl & Marian Rettenmeyer

Charles & Virginia Reviczky

Melinda Reviczky

Charles & Virginia Reviezky

Michael Rice

Peter W. Rich

Richard & Mary Reed

Nathaniel Richter

John & Grace Riesen

Elizabeth Riley

Peter Rimkus

Deanna Rios

John & Rita Risley

Roger Ristau

Suzanne Roberson

Carol Roberts

Donald & Karen Roberts

Clark Robertson

Page 5: WAIM 2013 newsletter

PAGE 5 WAIM N EWS

Donations continued

Stephen & Rebecca Robichaud

Anne Robinson

Elizabeth Robinson

John & Paula Robinson

Robert & Jeanette Rohan

Leonard & Linda Romeo

Sandra Rosado

Donna Rosen

Stanley & Andrea Rosenstein

Mark & Helen Ross

Sandra Roth

Brian & Monique Roy

Mark & Cheryl Roy

Donald & Yolande Rubb

Chauncy & Nancy Rucker

Richard & Sally Ruef

Ted & Cindy Rummel

James & Deborah Russel

Gayle Russell

James & Gisele Russo

William & Bonnie Ryan

Mitchell & Annmarie Saba

Diana & Andrew Sadlon

Richard & Louise Sage

Valerie Sakowski

Peter & Susan Salesses

Vicente & Omaira Sanchez

Paul & Joann Sandshaw

Bob & Marie Santa

Robert & Claudette Sanville

Ed & Jean Sawicki

Gerald Sazama

David & Deborah Scanlon

William Scanlon

Jacobus & Mary Schaab

Eugene & Margery Schiller

Howard & Bonnie Schiller

Richard Schimmelpfeng

Ann Schneider

David Schoolcraft

Bernhard & Jane Schreiber

Jonathan & Elena Schreiber

P. M. & S. B. Schur

Steven & Roberta Schwane

Doris Angel Sciremammano

Louis & Karen Scotti

Edward & Patricia Sczurek

Frank Seaforth

Charles Searing

Herbert & Tatyana Reykel- Segal

Kathleen Segerson & Anthona

Grosso

Jacqueline Seide

Murphy Sewall & Virginia Fulton

Lewis & Juli Shamback

Eleanor Shane

Paul & Annette Shapiro

John & Rita Sheetz

Robert & Kara Sheftel

Richard & Patricia Shek

Jaclyn Sheldon

Shirley May Shepard

Todd & Paula Shepard

Samuel & Virginia Shepardson

Bruce & Margaret Shieber

Jo-Ann Shine

Stuart Jay & Joan Seliger Sidney

Otto & Joan Siegrist

Kimberly Armstrong Silcox

Barbara Simmons

Bruce Bernstein & Helen Simono-

witz

Joan Simpson

Nicholas & Dorothy Sinchuk

David Skeels & Patricia Regan

George & Madeline Skinner

Randy & Denise Bergeron- Skoly

Elinor Skoog

Nancy Smagacz

Kirk Smallidge

Barbara Smith

David & Janette Smith

Dorothy Smith

Mary Bray Smith

Jerome & Myriam Smith

Marjorie Smith

Mark & Deborah Smith

Michael & Sarah Smith

Paul Smith

Paul & Laura Smith

Thomas & Eileen Smith

Tiffany Smith

Crystal Snow

Edward Soboleski

Martin & Karen Sommer

David Sonstroem

Elizabeth Soucy

William & Sherri Sowik

Philip & Susan Spak

Elizabeth Sparks

Jennifer Spector

James & Lmk Spillane

E Spitia

Mark & Eileen St. James

Irving & Connie Stanley

Michael Starr

Marion Stearns

Martha Stebner

Jill Stedman-Myette

Lynne Steeves

Ken Dardick & Judy Stein

Lynda Stein & Scott Berger

Phyllis Stensland

Carl Sternat

David & Sandra Stevens

Norman & Nora Stevens

Laura Lee Stewart

Jeffrey & Margaret Stickles

Gregory & Elizabeth Stillman

Cynara Stites

Donald & Barbara Stitts

Eileen Stock

Loretta Stone

Bill Stover & Leslie Poulos

William L & William K Strand

Edward & Susan Ahern Straub

Victoria Straub

Lucas & Kathleen Strunk

Robert & Patricia Stukel

Peter & Elizabeth Sturrock

Patricia Suprenant

Tim & Ginger Swanson

Lesley Sweeney

Patricia Swords

Michael & Carl Tabor

Sophie Tabor

J Or P Tanaka

Len & Barbara Tartaglia

Russell & Lisa Taylor

Frank & Lena Taylor-Griggs

Donald & Susan Tepas

Alexander Teplyaev & Mira Gordin

Jay Terbush

Lee Terry

David & Jean Terza

Susanna Thomas

Arlene Thompson

Judith Thompson

William & Annemarie Thompson

Raymond Tilden & Paula Goyette

Avery & Cynthia Tillinghast

Valerie Timmins

Audrey & Burr Tomlinson

Christopher & Judy Tonzi

Michael & Catherine Tormey

Sheldon Toubman

John & Jennifer Traynor

Gaye Tuchman

Elizabeth Tucker

Gregory & Jan Turansky

Anne Turcotte

Paul Twerdy

Ruth Phelan Twomey

Susana Ulloa

Christine Vagell

Samuel Martinez & Monica

Vanbeusekom

Charles Vermilyea

Alfred & Judith Vezina

Ronnie & Andrea Vezzetti

Donald & Rita Vigneau

Lorri Vilorio

Gary & Lori Vivian

Joseph & Nancy Vuono

Robert & Lenore Vyskocil

David & Donna Wadstrup

Patricia Wadsworth

R M & Jane Wadsworth

David & Sylvia Wagner

Jo-ann Waide-wunschel

Barbara Waldron

David & Jodi Walencewicz

Joan Walker

Noreen Wall

Daniel & Heather Walsh

Eric Walsh

Susan Wandell

Jeff & Lisa Ward

Clifford Ward

Bonnie Warner

Judith Warner

Daniel Warren

Elizabeth Wassmundt

Susan Wasstrom

Ailla Wasstrom-welz

Gregory & Karen Watson

Paul & Patricia Watson

James Watt & Alicia Welch

Ben & Wanda Wayler

Ellen Webb

Edmund & Mary Wehrle

Robin Weiner

Thomas & Mary Weinland

Richard & Christine Welden

F H Wemple Jr

Sally Wentworth

Janmarie Weston

Donald & Diana Wetherell

James & Brenda Whalen

John & Christina Wheaton

Catharen White

David & Andrea White

Eric & Jennifer White

Mary White

Patricia White

Nancy Whitehouse

John Wieczorek

Ronald & Joan Wikholm

Dana & Aliza Wilder

Michael & Anne Willenborg

Jean Williams

Richard Williams

Marilyn Wilson

Charles & Barbara Wilt

Jeffrey & Mary Withey

Jasmine Wolf

Thomas & Tina Woodcock

Matthew & Susanne Woods

Eileen Woodward

Patricia Woodworth

Charles & Frances Woody

Diane Wright

Julie Wright

Loretta Wrobel

Robert & Dianne Wyss

Terry & Dana Yanaway

David & Suzanne Yeo

Lyle & Joanne Yorks

Donald & Jeanne Young

Danielle Yung

David W Yutzey & Lisa Pane

David & Martha Yutzey

Ellen Zahl

Kathleen Ryan & William Zenko

Gary & Karen Zimmer

Joseph & Susan Ziobrowski

Douglas & Deborah Zlatin

Kudzai Zvoma

In Memory Of… Andrews III. Raymond J.

Armstrong Sr., Harry E.

Arsenas, Wesley

Atwood, Isabelle

Bird, Dr. Frank

Blanchard, Rufus

Bove, Joseph

Bowen, Robert (father of Carla B.

Gomez)

Brauneck, Blanche

Bray, Baron & Elinor

Britland, David T.

Brown, Charles

Browne, Dr. Edward

Bull, Thomas F.

Carenza, John

Caron, Paul R.

Carpenter, Norman

Children of Sandy Hook Elemen-

tary School Newtown CT

Coleman, Karen Bene'

Connor Jr., Arthur F.

Corcoran, Charles J.

Cote, Norman & Laurie, (loved

ones of)

Davis, Jack

Dawson, Florence Vernon

Diaz, Juan B. & Benigna

Doucet, Elizabeth

Dreyfuss, Dale M. (late husband

of Susan Bartholomew)

Duhamel, Roger G.

Ellis, Bernadette

Elmore, George & Luci

Evans, Rev. George K.

Fairweather, Howard & Joyce

Fera, Kristine Della

Fowler, Alice B.

Frigault, Fr. Edward

Gallup, Gary B.

Gardner, Mary M.

Gifford, Fred B,

Griffin, Bill

Griffin, Janet & Irving

Guay, Shirley

Hamill, Elizabeth

Hammett Jr., James L.

Harris, Clara Mae

Hayes, David Vincent

Hayes, Francis W.

Higginbotham, George & Nancy

Higgins, Warren

Israel, Jay

Jacobs, Mary Jane

Jefferson, Mary Starkey (mom of

Ellen J. Bell)

Jerue, Ann

Kalber, Eric J.

Khairallah, Edward

Kirschenbaum, Lesley

Kokoska, Ethan

Krum, Marian Trexler

Kugler, Rev. Joseph J.

Lackman, Thomas

Lafontaine, Shirley Q., mother of

Kimberly McAdam

LeMaire, Raymond

Lester, Kenneth A.

Lonergan, Bill

Lundberg, Susan Prague

Maciuka, Paul

Mattern, Harold

McCann, Sally

McCann, Sally

McLain, Roy

McSweeney, Barbara

Meade, William

Miller, Elizabeth

Millette, Elisabeth

Morgan, Alfred

Morgan, Doug

Nardine, Lou

Nass, Gary

Nelson, Pat

Newmyer, Jody

Newschaefer, Lou Anna (Rose)

(mother of Nan Cooper)

Niemasik Jr., Walter

Norton Jr., Omer H.

Ouimette, Laura

Pellegrine, Richard

Perkins, Rev. Dennis L.

Peters, Joseph & Marsha (parents

of)

Peters, Joyce

Peters, Olive

Phelan, Amelia

Racansky, Barbara (loved ones

of)

Radcliffe, Lila

Riley, Elizabeth

Romanow, James & Stanley

Roy, Theresa

Schiller, Frank

Schiller. Estelle

Scremammano, Paul

Seaforth, Arline M.

Sell, Hans & Anne

Stone Sr., Walter A.

Strand, Mary Ellen

Taylor, Alexander

Trudelle, Paul F.

Turansky, Theodore, father of

Gregory Turansky

Vagell, Mrs. Audrey E.

Wolf, Marian

In Honor Of Alassi. Eugen & Mary

Allison, Joan

Anderson, Aidan

Bailey, Greg

Bailey, Greg

Baker, Olivia

Barsleau, Jen

Bergert, Shirley

Berling, Marilyn

Bouley, Lorraine

Bruhn, Barbara

Dewald, Rev. Mrs. Mark

Fellows, Jennifer

Fish, Calvin & Carole

Gaalsijd, Jarrod Edward

Gallagher, Mr. & Mrs. Edward

Goodwin, Kathleen

Grillo, Richard

Halbert, Samuel Charles

Hendrick, Georgina

Hodge, Mr. & Mrs. Terry

Hope, Lorraine

Keane, Brian

Keast, Chuck

Klesser, Catherine

Lathrop, Marilyn

Moran, George

Moynihan, Neil & Jane

Mozzicato, Jack & Joyce & Cathy

Mulkern, John & Helen

Murphy, Renee & Daniel

Nateghi-asli, Jonathan

Northup, Jim & Andrea (cat

watchers)

Oliver, Fred & family

Pane, Lisa

Prague, Edith on retirement

Page 6: WAIM 2013 newsletter

come from as far away as Africa! Volunteer groups arrive from area colleges and universities, the United Way, high

schools, and businesses. Other individuals just walk-in. Linda provides a volunteer training several times a year. plac-

es and keeps track of all WAIM’s individuals and groups.

Assistant Director Evelyn Solla wears so many hats it takes awhile to list them. In addition to her main job, case man-

agement for the most disenfranchised, she staffs the Walk for Warmth Committee, coordinates the Back-to-School

Program and all the holiday programs (Adopt-a-Family, For Kids Only, Gifts for Teens),

and along with Linda, serves hundreds of people through WAIM’s Energy Assistance

Program, which includes Operation Fuel. With all that, she says she is “very much in-

vested in what I do. I want to say it’s a calling, a ‘help ministry’.” She particularly loves

the Back to School Program because she knows the kids feel good going to school on

the first day in new clothes. “I remember going back with the neighbor hand-me-

downs,” she said. After working for many years as the only case manager at WAIM,

Evelyn says that her job is much better now that Linda was hired and that has taken

some of the stress away. “Thank goodness for Linda...she is a blessing to me and this

agency,” she said.

Even though she loves her work, Evelyn said it would be nice if WAIM didn’t have to exist anymore, but that’s not go-

ing to happen. “There are too many families losing jobs and they can’t keep up with the rent and heat, and ever day

needs.” She added that some come and feel badly because they need help, but” WAIM is here to help and we’re glad

to be able to.”

All three of these heroic women help make WAIM great. Neenah says that WAIM tries hard to meet most basic needs

that people have. She says “a lot of people don’t come to us right away because they think it’s not for them… We

should see more elders. I am always surprised to hear that folks didn’t know we’re here.”

WAIM N EWS

Heroes from page 1

“ I want to say it’s a calling, a ‘help ministry’.”

PAGE 6

Donations continued QT Study Group

Randazzo, Joe MD

Schillenger, Suzanne

Seeber, Jane

Shepard, Shirley

Stensland, Phyllis

Strum, M & D

Strunk, Mr. & Mrs. Luke

Temple Beth El

Temple B’nai Israel

Terbush, Jessica, daughter of

Jay Terbush

Vose, Jeffrey

Wadsworth, Dick & Jane

Weinland, Tim & Mary

Wiggins, Carol

Yeo, Larry & Darlene

Yutzey, David

Yutzey, David & Martha

Yutzey, Katherine

Celebrations 25th Wedding Anniversary of

Neil & Jane Moynihan

50th Wedding Anniversary of

Howard & Alicia Wayland

70th Birthday of Richard Elias

Bat Mitzvah of Rachel Horowitz

Bat Mitzvah of Samantha

Golden

Bat Mitzvah of Sharon S. Peters

Birthday & Wedding Anniver-

sary of Lucy DeLuca

Birthday of Jonathan Schreiber

Happy Holidays

Ministry of South Windham

Congregational Church

Our wonderful caring

community

Praise God

Purim

Rebecca Coyne's Christmas

Cards

Thanksgiving

Faith Communities,

Foundations, Business &

Community Organizations A & B Scrap Metal LLC

Aetna Foundation

Altrusa

Annie E Vinton School Staff

AT&T United Way

Aurora Group

Bank of America

Charter Oak Credit Union

Charter Oak State College

Church of the Holy Family

Colchester Federated Church

Columbia Congregational

Church

Community Foundation Of

Eastern Connecticut

Competitive Resources, Inc.

Congregational Church of

Scotland

Covenant Soup Kitchen

Coventry Garden Club

CT State Library

Denis Electric

Discovery Zone Learning Center

Dominion Employee Giving

Program

Donnelly/Colt Progressive

Resources

Ralph Kroopnick, MD

E. O. Smith Student Activity

Fund School

Eastern CT State University

Ebenezer Lutheran Church

First Baptist Church Of Mans-

field

First Church Of Christ Congre-

gational UCC

First Congregational Church

Andover

First Congregational Church Of

Coventry

First Congregational Church Of

South Windham

First Congregational Church

Willimantic

First United Methodist Church

Of Willimantic

GE United Way Campaign

Hampton Congregational

Church

Hampton EastConn

Hampton Remodeling Co, LLC

Holy Family Home & Shelter

Holy Trinity Orthodox Church

ING, Inc.

ING Employees

Jacobs, Walker, Rice & Barry,

LLC

John's Scrap Metal

Landon Tire Inc.

Lavigne, Mark & Rogers LLC

Legislative Office Building Suite

5300

Lester Foster & Phyllis Foster

Foundation

Liberty Bank Foundation

LIMRA

Lincoln Financial Group

Manchester Community College

Mansfield Lions Club

Mansfield Middle School

Middlesex United Way

Pfizer Foundation United Way

Campaign

Potter's Oil Service

Pratt & Whitney

Prudential

RCC of St. Mary

Savings Institute

SBM Charitable Foundation

SE Mental Health Authority

Second Congregational Church

Coventry

Sheldon Mossberg. Esquire

Soroptimist Intl,Willimantic

St Mary-St. Joseph School

St. Joseph's Catholic Church

St. Mark's Chapel

St. Maurice Church

St. Paul's Episcopal Church Of

Windham

St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel

St. Vincent De Paul Place

State Of Connecticut Office Of

State Comptroller

Statewide Grievance Commit-

tee

Stephen Dinsmore Plumbing &

Heating

Storrs Community Church

Storrs Congregational Church

Storrs Friends Meeting

Temple B’nai Israel

The Federated Church Of

Willington

Hartford Financial Services

Group, Inc.

The National Institute For The

Clinical Application Of Behavior-

al Medicine

The Prudential Foundation

Matching Gifts

Three Rivers Community Col-

lege

Thrivent for Lutherans

Tolland High School

Town Of Glastonbury

Town Of Mansfield

Travelers

Travelers Community Connec-

tions

UConn School of Fine Arts

Unitarian Fellowship of Storrs

United Protestant Church

Building Repair Fund

United Technologies Aerospace

Systems

United Way of Central & North-

eastern Connecticut

United Way of Greater Philadel-

phia & SNJ

United Way of Pioneer Valley

Inc

United Way of Southeastern

Connecticut

United Way of Webster & Dud-

ley Inc

University Of Conn. League

USDA Employees Association Of

Tolland CT

Wellness by Design

Weston's Antiques

Willimantic Brewing Co. LLC

Willimantic Donuts, Inc.

Willimantic Food Co-op

Willimantic Lions Club Charities

Willimantic Rotary Club

Willimantic Seventh Day Ad-

ventist Church

Windham Center School

Windham Community Memorial

Hospital

Windham County Bar Assoc.

Windham Elementary Schools

Windham Public Schools

Xerox Corp

Page 7: WAIM 2013 newsletter

WAIM N EWS PAGE 7

Community Garden Donates Fruits (and Vegetables) of their Labor

The WAIM Community Garden at Lauter Park had

a very successful summer says Andy Ames, longtime Gar-

den volunteer. There was not too much rain for the space

the Garden’s in. Other places in town were not so lucky.

“There were a lot more hands around to make the

work lighter this year.” Andy says.

AmeriCorps was there to help organize the daily work, and

more volunteers to help. There were lots of kids groups

and campers, and some new gardeners for the individual

plots.

Andy added that “the produce this year went al-

most exclusively to the Covenant Soup Kitchen," where it

is very much needed and appreciated.

WAIM walk continues to help others

LOUISA OWEN SONSTROEM, Chronicle Staff Writer

Published: November 19, 2012 - Permission to re-print

WILLIMANTIC - While nearly everyone's budget has been squeezed by a bad economy, some low-income people in the Willimantic community and surrounding areas must make much harder choices than most.

"It's sometimes a choice between food and heat," explained Windham Area Interfaith Ministry Executive Director Victoria Nimirowski.

For those people, WAIM's Energy Assistance Fund can be a last hope, and the annual Walk for Warmth event, held Sunday for the 21st time, makes all the difference. Approximately 150 walkers participated in this year's event, which raised nearly $25,000 for the energy fund.

The fund helps low-income families who do not qualify for, or have already exhausted, available government assistance to meet their energy needs. "We're the net where people go when they can't go anywhere else," Nimirowski said.

Last year, according to a WAIM release, 369 households comprised of about 1,000 indi-viduals benefited from the energy fund. The walk has grown over the years, Nimirowski said, and while the energy assistance need remains, the funding is critical. When the Walk for Warmth began 21 years ago, similar events were held all over the country.

WAIM's energy program is funded primarily by the walk, for which participants raise a minimum of $20 each. Nimirowski said the walk draws people from various de-mographics, but all come together for the common cause. “I think the beauty of it is that it really is a broad range of people," she said.

This year's route led walkers through part of downtown Willimantic, passing by several important WAIM sites along the way - for example, the route included the church where WAIM operated its first clothing basement and the current office on Main Street.

"You could see the physical growth of WAIM," Nimirowski said. "I love this event be-cause it really brings the spirit of the community up front," she added.

She highlighted the interfaith Thanksgiving service that takes place prior to the walk each year, which emphasizes giving thanks "for everything - all of the gifts that we have, and how we need to share them with our neighbors."

This years’ service included songs by musician David Foster and others and readings, not only in English but also in languages such as Italian, Hebrew, Korean and Spanish. "It's just very moving," Nimirowski said. The next walk is a year away, but the need for energy assistance will remain and intensify as the coldest winter months ap-proach.

"We accept donations year round, so people can certainly help," Nimirowski said.

2013 Walk for Warmth

Sunday, November 24

1st Congregational Church of Willimantic

199 Valley Street

Registration: 1:00 pm

Interfaith Thanksgiving Service: 1:30 pm

Walk Begins: 2:15 pm

$20 minimum sponsorship to enter.

Proceeds benefit WAIM’s Energy Assistance Program

www.waimct.org

Page 8: WAIM 2013 newsletter

The Windham Area Interfaith Ministry uplifts and

unites our community by providing caring service

and

resources to meet our neighbors’ needs with

dignity and respect.

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

Willimantic, CT 06226-0221

WAIM SUSPENDS MATERIAL DONATIONS UNTIL BOILER IS REPLACED

It is rare that we ask you to hold off on making material donations this time of year. Ironically, as we head into the time

when we raise funds for our Energy Assistance Program, our boiler has decided to quit on us. A cold building is not

conducive to having our volunteers here, so until we can replace the boiler, we can’t count on being able to sort and distribute

donated goods. We will let you know when we will be accepting donations of these items again. Please note: if you leave

donations on our loading dock we will be forced to dispose of them and we will risk being fined.

In the meantime, we are looking at replacement costs of upwards of $50,000. If you are interested in donating to the

boiler replacement fund, please contact Victoria at 860 456-7270 ext. 11 or you may send a check to WAIM and specify that

it is for the fund. Thank you!

WAIM also needs your financial support.

Enclosed is my tax-deductible donation of $_______________ to help WAIM’s ministry thrive.

This donation is given (please circle one) in memory of in honor of in celebration of

_____________________________________________________________________

Your Name_______________________________ email address ______________________

Address_________________________________

___________ I would like information on Leaving a Legacy to WAIM. Please call me at _______________.

___________ Please send me a tax receipt.

Clip and mail this form with your donation to: WAIM

PO Box 221

Willimantic, CT 06226-0221