The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper.
December 26, 2019
Letter to the Editor:
As we approach the New Year, we want to thank you for the help and support provided to us especially over the last couple of months. The goal of our holiday giving program is to ensure that every family who reaches out to us for support can celebrate the Christmas season with their children in their home. This year twenty individual, family or Church donors adopted twenty families. And we received enough individual support through our November Stuff-a-Cruiser event, Troop F in Westbrook, the generosity of those who came to our office bearing gifts or donations and those who mailed in checks to be able to help two additional families (even one referred to us by a community partner as late as December 19th ). A total of sixty-one children and teens benefit from our program this year. The thanks expressed to us by one family was meant to be heard by all those who made this possible:
“Words can’t remotely express the level of gratitude we have for your acts of kindness. It means so very much to us that you made our children’s Christmas enjoyable and memorable…God Bless.”
We have been a staff of six going on five months now. Four of us experienced the holiday giving season last year when we were all new to Youth and Family Services. For two of us, new since July, this season was a first. When speaking about life in Haddam and Killingworth, one of them summed it up this way, “what a fortunate place to raise kids.” We couldn’t agree more.
Thank you, Haddam and Killingworth, for being what is best about small town life, for your generosity of spirit and willingness to do so much for neighbors and their children though you may never know their names. Thank you for being a community that cares. Your acts of kindness will be remembered, forever.
Wishing you all a safe and healthy New Year.
Laurie E. Ruderfer and the Youth and Family Service of Haddam Killingworth Team
91 Little City Road
Higganum, CT 06441
860-345-7498
