Eddy Shelter receives housing grant

MIDDLETOWN — The Connection’s Eddy Shelter of Middlesex County will begin much needed capital improvements in 2018, thanks to $134,000 in funding approved by the Connecticut Department of Housing. The Eddy Shelter is the only emergency homeless shelter in Middlesex County that serves single adult male, female, and transgender clients. The Eddy shelter served 140 unique clients for 2,150 bed nights in 2017.

The Connection’s plan is to improve the Eddy Shelter in order to meet the broad needs of the community and enhance the well-being of our residents. These needs will focus on housing and facility functionality, as well as improved security for clients and staff. Collectively, these urgently needed projects will allow the shelter to operate more effectively as a housing first program.

The capital improvement projects planned for this investment include updating the existing security system at the shelter, upgrading the existing laundry facilities, and updating furniture to more durable pieces in each room. The facility will also be repainted and flooring and blinds will be replaced as part of the renovations.

The Connection is a Connecticut-based nonprofit human services and community development agency that partners with individuals and their families to provide the needed resources to improve their lives. Each month thousands throughout Connecticut are assisted by The Connection’s diverse behavioral health, family support, and community justice programs. These programs reunite families, break the generational cycles of abuse and neglect, and create safer, healthier communities. For information about The Connection, please visit www.theconnectioninc.org or call our Toll-free Helpline: (855) Help955 or (855) 435-7955. were made in advance by students, staff and community members. Due to overwhelming support from the community, the school sold out of tickets, ran out of bowls and almost completely ran out of food, raising $4,700 for local food banks. Last year they exceeded a goal of making 300 bowls for this years dinner and expect an even greater turn out for this year’s dinner event.

All proceeds from Empty Bowls events benefit the Hebron Interfaith Food Bank, Marlborough Food Bank and Andover Congregational Church Food Pantry.

The event works by selling tickets to a dinner event where guests are invited to choose a handmade ceramic bowl to use for a simple meal of soup and bread and to take home as a reminder that there are always empty bowls in the world. In addition, there will be student ensemble and solo performances from RHAM’s select choir, Encore.

Dinner tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and children. Ticket order forms can be found on the RHAM High School website. Additional monetary and food donations will also be accepted. Student-designed Empty Bowls t-shirts will be sold at the dinner.

A group of16 businesses in Hebron, Andover, Marlborough and Glastonbury that are generously donating food and supplies for the dinner this year so that all ticket money will go to the food banks. A big thanks to Andover Pizza, Angie’s Pizza, Big Y, Blackledge River Tavern, Chartwells, FennAgains, Georgia’s Restaurant, Gina Marie’s, Marlborough Pizza, Pizzeria DaVinci, Sadlers, Something Simple, The Spicy Green Bean, Ted’s IGA Supermarket, Three Fellas Pizza & Market and Village Green Pizza for donating food and supplies for this years event.