STATE POLICE TO HELP CONNECTICUT NONPROFIT COLLECT WHEELCHAIRS SATURDAY

State police on Saturday will open barracks across the state for wheelchair collection in an effort to help a Connecticut-based nonprofit that refurbishes and redistributes the wheelchairs to people in need around the world, police said.

According to police, Chariots of Hope wants to collect 300 wheelchairs during its 17th annual “Day of 1,000 Wheels.”

Experts estimate almost 20 million children and adults worldwide could make use of wheelchairs that are sitting unused.

Those who wish to donate a wheelchair can drop it off at any state police barracks from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

The closest are Troop E on Interstate 395 north between exits 79 and 79A in Montville, Troop F at 315 Spencer Plains Road in Westbrook and Troop K at 15A New Hartford Road in Colchester.

Police said they collected more than 55 wheelchairs last year.

For more information, call (860) 242-HOPE or visit www. chariotsofhope.org.

Tribe to host children’s mental health awareness day

Dozens of local professionals representing mental health, public safety and social service organizations will participate in the free event. organizations will participate in the free event.

Activities will include a mobile aquatic petting zoo, courtesy of Mystic Aquarium; face painting; a bounce house; a life-size Hungry-Hungry Hippo game; and Native American crafts. Door prizes will be distributed. Police K-9 demonstrations and free eye exams also are scheduled, as are performances by The Lion’s Den and Writer’s Block Ink.

To register or request more information, contact Michele Scott at Michele.Scott@mptn.org.

The event is sponsored by the Mashantucket Pequot Drive for Diabetes Fund. households make ends meet and avoid energy debt,” Bremby said in the release.

“Most important, residents who heat with natural gas or electricity and who are behind on their bills can avoid shutoff notices and actions from utilities if they qualify for energy assistance,” he said.

Every spring, some Connecticut households receive shutoff notices from utility companies because they are behind on their payments, the department said.

Utility shutoffs can be averted for those eligible for energy assistance through the program’s intervention and direct payments.

Applications are made in person at Community Action Agencies and other local energy assistance sites.

For information about eligibility and application sites, call 2-1-1 (toll-free) or visitwww.ct.gov/ staywarm.

Home-heating aid under the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is available for households heating with natural gas, electricity and deliverable fuels (oil, kerosene and propane).

The cutoff date for having a new fuel delivery paid for by the assistance program was March 15, but eligible households still can get help with bills and payments they already have incurred, the news release said.

Connecticut’s allocation from LIHEAP this year is approximately $80 million.

Thus far, 85,480 households have been determined eligible for heating assistance, down from 94,387 at this time last year, the social services department said.

State officials estimate that an additional $10 million in federal funding is available to assist eligible Connecticut households.