Pat Tarasovic, Director of the Volunteer Action Center is seen
chatting with some of the Griffin Health Services employees as they awaited the arrival of
students to pick up the gift wrapped packages of clothing that they had prepared.
Pat Tarasovic, Director of the Volunteer Action Center is seen
chatting with some of the Griffin Health Services employees as they awaited the arrival of
students to pick up the gift wrapped packages of clothing that they had prepared.
A few minutes later the gymnasium was full of happy children and
parents as they quickly opened their packages and discovered just how much the members of
the Corporate Volunteer Council had done for them.
The Corporate Volunteer Council of the Volunteer Acton Center of Valley United Way launched its first annual "Back to School Clothes for Kids" project on June 25, 1996 at a breakfast at General Electric Company, Shelton. The Council had decided to tackle a special project for the beginning of the new school year. They decided to supply returning school students with two new clothing outfits, a winter coat, undergarments, a pair of sneakers, and a backpack full of pencils, pens, notebooks, and other school supplies.
The Corporate Volunteer Council is a coalition of local business corporations which have active programs in employee volunteer involvement. The local corporations which are currently participating are: Black and Decker Co., Brennan Construction Co., Centerbank, CT Light and Power Co., Derby Savings Bank, Fleet Bank, General Electric Co., Griffin Hospital, Iroquois Gas Transmission, ITT Hartford Insurance, Philips Medical Systems, Pitney Bowes, Prudential Relocation, Rhone-Poulenc, Ryan Employment Services, Shady Knoll Health Center, Suburban Health Plan, Tele-Media of Western CT, The Greenwich Workshop, Turner Construction Co., United Illuminating, United Methodist Home, Valley Shopping Center, and Westinghouse Broadcasting.
Irving School in Derby was chosen as the recipient school for the campaign this year. Each corporation sponsored at least one child whom the school had identified as being in need and provided them with apparel and school supplies. The companies were presented with information about their students so that they could purchase items that matched the students needs and interests. They then purchased the items and gift wrapped them for presentation to the students. Their hope is that new school clothes will boost the self-esteem of these underprivileged children, reduce truancy problems (due to peer pressure with respect to clothing), and show them that the community cares about them and their education.
Distribution of gift packages was held on August 23, 1996 in the gym at Irving School. One hundred twelve students were presented their gift wrapped packages by representatives of the contributing corporations.
For more information on volunteer opportunities, please contact the Volunteer Action Center at 926-9478. The Center can also be reached by E-Mail by clicking here.
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