St. Michael's Church, Litchfield, CT

The Susan B. Anthony Project is sponsoring an event called “Take back the night” to help spread awareness and take a stand against sexual violence. Statistically, 1 in 5 Connecticut residents are sexually assaulted in their lifetime.

You are urged to join as we unite in support of survivors of sexual violence at a gathering in the Arts and Sciences Building on the Northwestern Connecticut Community College campus this coming Tuesday, April 18, at 6:30pm The following displays will be shown in recognition and support of survivors:

Faces of Survival – A photo exhibition of victims/survivors who have chosen to break the silence and their the story of their journey.
The Clothesline Project and White Ribbon Campaign – The Clothesline Project displays T-shirts designed by survivors and the White Ribbon Campaign provides a pledge that men are invited to sign to “never committ, condone or remain silent about violence against women.”

Jo Ann Jaacks, St. Michael’s Outreach Chairperson, recently visited the new facility of Hands of Grace, an outreach ministry of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in New Hartford. Vicar Kevin Mongeau provided a tour of their new home, which includes an intake space with children’s toys, a prayer room, and a large warehouse where the group can store food, clothing and household items, including small pieces of furniture. Their mission is to help the working poor in Litchfield County, a segment of society that doesn’t quality for many government programs.
Each month, St. Michael’s will focus on one specific need that is on the Hands of Grace wish list. For the month of April, they most need plastic hangers to display their new donations of warmer weather clothing. (Although Marcie, a volunteer at the facility, said they would also greatly appreciate donations of queen-size sheets, pillowcases and other bedding in good condition.)

Please leave your donations in the parish office or contact Jo Ann at events@stmichaels-litchfield.org for more details or pick-up.

The Rick Neller family of Morris lost everything in a recent fire. Friends have opened a bank account for those wishing to make a financial contribution. Please send checks made to “In support of the Nellers” c/o Litchfield Bancorp, PO Box 997, Litchfield, CT 06759 or drop off at the bank at 294 West Street in Litchfield.

Cards, letters or gift cards from local stores can be sent to:
Neller Family c/o
Danny Clock
10 Brush Hill Road
Litchfield, CT 06759

A Spaghetti Dinner to Benefit Rick Neller and Family will be held at The Litchfield Community Center on Sunday, March 24th 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. $10 pp donation ($50 max for family) will be collected at the door. Please keep in mind that to prepare the right amount of food and best accommodate everyone who plans to attend, the great crew of volunteers involved in making this dinner possible ask that you please EMAIL RESERVATION: litchfieldcommunitycenter@gmail.com by this Friday. Seatings will be for 4:00 p.m., 4:15, 4:30, and every 15 minutes on up to 7 p.m.

St. Michael’s member Peter Losee is helping to organize a large fundraiser in April and we will publicize that once details are confirmed.

At the Torrington Community Kitchen, volunteers (including a Rota of St. Michael’s members) assist with the food preparation, serving, clean up and weekend coverage.

What the Soup Kitchen needs most now:
INSTANT MASHED POTATOES
PASTA and SAUCE
CANNED VEGGIES and SOUPS OF ANY KIND
COFFEE
ICE TEA MIX
NON-DAIRY CREAMERS
NAPKINS
PAPER TOWELS
BLEACH
MONETARY DONATIONS
GIFT CARDS FROM LOCAL GROCERY STORES INCLUDING BJS

If you wish to make a donation:
Please contact Lisa Hageman at 860-482-0130 or visit the Kitchen at 220 Prospect Street in Torrington.
ALL DONATIONS CAN BE DROPPED OFF FROM 8am-1pm MON- FRI

“…if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” ~1 John 3:17

Is there someone in your church or community who could use some extra help today–food, help running errands, a friendly visit, a shoulder to cry on, or just a word of encouragement? Consider taking a few extra minutes today to help somebody who needs it. The perfect way to celebrate Valentines Day!

Looking to help victims of Hurricane Sandy? This Sunday, January 13, is a good chance.

Round II of Litchfield’s hurricane relief effort will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Town Hall parking lot. The “Sandy Team,” with help from Litchfield High School’s Interact Club, will be collecting school supplies for students at the Frederick Douglass Academy, a high school in the Far Rockaway section of Queens, N.Y., that was devastated by Sandy. Many of the school’s 450 students lost their school supplies when their homes were flooded or destroyed.

Items sought are paper, notebooks, pens and pencils, rulers, index cards, binders, backpacks, makers and erasers. Cash will also be accepted as will gift cards to Home Depot, Lowe’s and CVS. Please help if you can!

As people from our area and beyond respond to this heartbreaking tragedy, they are turning to United Way looking for ways to help. In response, UWWC, in partnership with Newtown Savings Bank, has created the Sandy Hook School Support Fund that will provide support services to the families and community affected by this senseless tragedy.

To donate to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund, you can send a check to:

Sandy Hook School Support Fund
c/o Newtown Savings Bank
39 Main Street, Newtown CT 06470

Or, checks may be dropped off at any Newtown Savings Bank branch location – http://www.nsbonline.com/about-us/locations.aspx. For questions please call 800-461-0672.

To donate online, go to https://newtown.uwwesternct.org

For immediate support, Connecticut families can call 2-1-1 or visit www.211ct.org.

There are a number of human service agencies offering assistance to those in need, but it is the Litchfield Community Services Fund that provides assistance for a host of short-term emergencies not covered by other services.

Since 1967, the fund has been help individuals and families by using funds raised through donations to meet urgent financial needs including rent and mortgage payments, fuel, utilities, medical costs, and other basic human concerns.

During 2012, the LCSF awarded 80 grants to 55 individuals and families in our Bantam, Litchfield and Northfield communities including camperships to local children. Last year, St. Michael’s members joined in to support a local Litchfield family whose home was destroyed by fire. St. Michael’s continues to partner and support this valuable community resource.

Donations can be made to:
Litchfield Community Services Fund
PO Box 819
Litchfield, CT 06759

If you feel moved to make a donation to the Fund, please mention that you read about their good works on St. Michael’s blog.

When filling out your Christmas cards, please consider sending one card to a wounded veteran:

Holiday cards and letters, but not packages, may be sent to the following address until Dec. 27:

We Support You During Your Recovery!
c/o American Red Cross
P.O. Box 419
Savage, MD 20763-0419

Red Cross volunteers will receive bundle the cards, which will be distributed at medical facilities including Walter Reed Hospital, which is the destination of New England soldiers who are wounded or otherwise in need of medical care. PLEASE NOTE THAT CARDS MAILED TO “ANY AMERICAN SOLDIER” AT WALTER REED HOSPITAL DIRECTLY WILL BE RETURNED DUE TO SECURITY PRECAUTIONS.

This could be the simplest, and most meaningful Christmas Outreach of all: to remember these special people who have given, and lost, so much. The greatest casualty of a wounded warrior is being forgotten. Please share this post!

Thank you to all who supported the African Team Ministries Handcrafts Sale managed at St. Michael’s by Susie Pollock and Martha Babbitt. St. Michael’s was able to send $485 to African Team Ministries, a Christian ministry working as an intermediary between African and American churches. With help from Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Anglican denominations, they provide funding for evangelism in East Africa, jobs for unemployed women as they make crafts, and resources for orphan and refugee relief in eight Anglican dioceses, health education, clergy and lay education and building repairs, as needed.

The support they receive is sent directly to their partnering Bishops to provide school fees, tuition, books, and uniforms. This support ensures that the children receive an education and a measure of stability needed to rebuild their minds. They currently have children registered for sponsorship in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. So, all whom purchased some of these lovely handcrafted items participate in giving the gift of HOPE!