Community Outreach Committee

North Haven Sons and Daughters of Italy’s Community Outreach Committee is coordinating the collection of new winter outerwear items (mittens, gloves, scarves, hats) for all aged children supported by ‘r kids Family Center. 

Please contact one of our members for more information: Georgianna: 203-988-8006 Denise: 203-710-7397 Donna: 203-887-7308 Judy: 203-909-5031 

The 'r kids Family Center is a 501(c)3, Connecticut based non-profit organization committed to providing specialized, high-quality services to children in out-of-home care and their families; promoting permanency, safety and stability for children through services to their biological, foster or adoptive families. 

We were founded in New Haven, Connecticut in 1996 by a grassroots group of concerned community professionals, foster and adoptive parents. The 'r kids Family Center is a licensed child placing agency through the state of Connecticut Department of Children and Families, and is credentialed through Applied Behavioral Health for a variety of child welfare related services. 

Please help us support the great work that ‘r kids Family Center performs by bringing any new warm winter outerwear items (mittens, gloves, scarves, hats) to either the October or November Lodge membership meetings. Please include items for kids of all ages! 

Additionally, we will have community collection boxes set up at the following businesses: 

Arnold’s Jeweler’s, 117 Washington Avenue, North Haven 

Nick’s Char-Pit, 22 Middletown Avenue, North Haven 

Thank you for helping make this collection a success! 

The Community Outreach Committee of The North Haven Sons and Daughters of Italy Lodge 2805 will be collecting items to be added to “Welcome Kits” for New Haven’s Columbus House.  These are kits of basic household items given to Individuals/families that have secured housing and are leaving the Columbus House. It is a way to give them a warm welcome to their new homes.  We will be on the North Haven Green on Saturday, May 21st from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. collecting items and assembling the kits for delivery to the Columbus House.  Please join us!  New items needed for these Kitchen or Bathroom kits are dish racks, dish towels, potholders, dish soap, paper towels, cups, plates, pans, cooking utensils, flatware, garbage pails, bathmats, bath towels, shampoo, bath soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes.  One or two of these items for the collection drive would make a great contribution to the assembly of kits.

Another option is to drop off items by May 17th at the following local businesses:   

• Arnold’s Jeweler’s, 117 Washington Avenue, North Haven  
• Hamden Florist, 2340 Whitney Avenue, Hamden  
• Hello Gorgeous, 630 Washington Avenue, North Haven 
• Nick’s Char-Pit, 22 Middletown Avenue, North Haven   

Feel free to contact of our committee members with any questions.

Our Lodge, as part of our community outreach committee wanted to make a difference in the lives of some residents in a couple Homes in our area. We were interested especially in the residents that do not get cards or visitors. 

The two homes we will concentrate our efforts on are Hamden Health in Hamden and Montowese Rehab in North Haven. 

My name is Judy Feather and I’m leading this project for our committee: I spoke with the Montowese recreation director. She was very excited and thought it would be gratefully appreciated. Montowese is not allowing visitors at this time but planning to soon. Meanwhile, the residents would love cards and notes. She would direct them too the most needy. 

Because of HIPPA, she would not give names over the phone but told me that when we come to visit, we will learn their first names.   

I also met with Hamden Health director. She provided the first names and room number of seven needy residents. I met four of them and promised them future visits.

Here’s how you can help: There is a great need for cards of cheer. I will be bringing cards to the next in person meeting. They will be prepared with North Haven Sons & Daughters of Italy return labels. I will ask members to write personal notes of cheer. I will hand deliver them to the homes to prevent postage costs. If you would like to be part of this outreach, please contact Judy Feather – 203-909-5031.