What’s going on in your part of Greenwich
Cos Cob
The Cos Cob Fire Police Patrol, one of the most specialized units in the state, is seeking vital support for its work.
On three upcoming weekends, patrol members will be stationed at intersections, where supporters can stuff donations in firefighter boots that they will be carrying.
The fundraising effort comes amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. In a regular year, the patrol sees about $40,000 a year in private donations, with the funds used for modernizing and maintaining equipment and training members.
The pandemic forced the patrol to cancel its 2020 spring benefit, and now public support is needed more than ever at the nonprofit. The patrol held a smaller scale event during the Christmas holidays, with patrol members delivering gifts to kids from its truck. But it still needs more support.
“The majority of our fundraising comes from that March or April benefit so to not have it two
years in a row is pretty devastating from a fundraising standpoint,” said Stephanie Dunn Ashley, president of the patrol’s board of directors.
It’s also important for the community to meet the patrol members and find out about their work. Also due to the pandemic, the patrol hasn’t been able to offer open houses or host family birthday parties, which lets residents see the trucks and the equipment.
“We want people to see the faces behind the trucks,” Dunn Ashley said. “Every member of the patrol is a volunteer and they all live in town.”
The Fire Police Patrol is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that has been in place since 1927. It does traffic and scene control at emergencies as well as firefighting and salvage operations, working both with the public and with other first responders.
The patrol is one of the few remaining organizations that specializes in salvage operations.
Members are specially trained to go into a fire and protect valuable personal property from a home or a business that might be destroyed or damaged by flames, water or smoke. It responds to an average of 1,000 calls a year.
A nonprofit, the patrol relies heavily on private donations to cover its annual operating budget.
Patrol members will be out from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 17, May 1 and May 15 at the intersections of East Putnam Avenue and Sinawoy Road as well as the intersection of Indian Field Road and Sound Shore Drive to collect donations in the stuff-a-boot campaign.
The patrol is also hoping to have a fundraising event over the summer but details are not yet finalized. Donations can also be made online at ccfpp.org.
Riverside
The Parish of St. Catherine of Siena and St. Agnes is calling on the community to aid Inspirica, a Stamford-based nonprofit working to break the cycle of homelessness by getting people into stable and permanent housing.
The parish is seeking donations of new bedding and cleaning supplies for Inspirica. Donations can be dropped off at the church’s vestibules at 4 Riverside Ave. before Masses on April 10 and April 11.Donations can also be left at St. Agnes Church at 247 Stanwich Road.
New sheets in all sizes are needed as well as new pillows, pillowcases and comforters. Needed supplies include allpurpose cleaners, sanitary wipes and glass cleaner.
The drive was organized by the parish’s Social Justice Committee, which is chaired by Betsy Parker, who said they have a long-term partnership with Inspirica.
“Our Social Justice Committee selects three or four nonprofits that we routinely give to,” Parker said. “Inspirica is one of them. … Their motto is ‘from homelessness to home’ so they are helping people every step of the way. They provide not only food, clothing and shelter but they provide the means by which these people can then get their own food, clothing and shelter.”
An Amazon wish list of items needed at Amazon is set up at https://smile.amazon.com/ hz/charitylist/ls/ 7U8ASQZ6N01K/ref= smi_ext_lnk_lcl_cl. For more information about Inspirica, visit www.inspiricact.org/.
Central Greenwich
The new chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution recently donated bags of candy to health-care workers at Greenwich Hospital, both in recognition of the Easter and Passover holidays and for their hard work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several chapter members presented the candy to Julie Lapin, the hospital’s senior communications officer; Marc Kosak, executive VP and chief operating officer; and Karen Santucci, senior VP and chief medical officer. The candy was placed throughout the hospital for everyone to enjoy.
The new DAR chapter is looking for members who “have a desire to support our community in a variety of ways.” The DAR is a nonprofit and nonpolitical volunteer women’s service organization “dedicated to promoting patriotism and preserving American history.”
Anyone interested in becoming a charter member of the chapter can contact Jolene Mullen, Connecticut state chair for chapter development at the CTDAR, at jolenem@aol.com.
Downtown
The celebration of the Greenwich Police Department’s 125th anniversary is underway, and shoppers at Alice + Olivia on April 8 can take part in a benefit event for the GPD.
The clothing store at 335 Greenwich Ave. will offer a 10 percent discount to shoppers that day and contribute an additional 10 percent to the Greenwich Police Department’s Scholarship Fund.
“We all need to bring some new style to our wardrobes after a year of in-home sheltering,” store manager Brianna Forchetti said. “Come in and see our latest arrivals and support the students of the Greenwich Police Department. Wardrobe flair meets community support, what a great combination.”
A similar fundraising event was held at Funky Monkey Toys & Books. Also, NicholsMD will donate 5 percent of the sales of its product of the month in June to the scholarship fund. Miku Sushi will sell a special September menu item as a fundraiser, and Vineyard Vines will make a donation from a back-to-school sale. Other events, including a car show and a policeman’s ball, will be held to celebrate the anniversary.
The fund gives scholarship money to qualifying students of GPD officers. This school year, 26 scholarships have been funded and that number is expected to increase next year.
“Greenwich has such a strong sense of community and we’re very appreciative of the community’s support to our scholarship fund,” Chief of Police James Heavey said.
For more information about the scholarship fund, call 203622-7844 or visit www.gpdscholarshipfund.org.