The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Breakfast brings health center, community together
PreThanksgiving meal held annually ‘to give back’
TORRINGTON — The secondfloor cafeteria at the Community Health & Wellness Center was bustling with activity Thursday morning, when staff members provided the center’s annual breakfast.
The preThanksgiving breakfast, which has been held for the last 10 years or more, is CEO Joanne Borduas’ favorite event of the year. As more and more guests arrived, Borduas and Marketing Manager Patti Martin greeted them warmly and led them to the buffet table, where scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon and hash browns were being served by staff members, along with coffee, orange juice, muffins and coffee cake.
“I love this,” Borduas said. “It’s my favorite because we do it every year. Everyone loves it. I hope we can always provide it for the community.”
The community included many patients of the health and wellness center on Migeon Avenue. A grandmother brought her two grandchildren, who received balloons and toys. Some Prime Time House clients also were there, along with longtime patients such as Ludwig “Luddy” Gauger and his caregiver, Yda Hock.
“She’s my second mom,” Gauger said.
Gauger hasn’t missed a Thanksgiving breakfast since he became a patient at CHWC, he said. He and Hock were enjoying their bacon and eggs, but Gauger liked the coffee best. “As long as I have this,” he said, holding up his cup, “I’m fine.”
“The breakfast is a way for the staff to spend time with people, outside of appointments,” Martin said. “They can sit and talk, and enjoy themselves for a little while. It’s just a way of making a connection with them ... it’s always a good day.”
The center recently added a pharmacy to its services, and pharmacist Steve Lee was eating with several guests in the cafeteria. “Steve’s great — he’s so warm and helpful with people,” said human resources staff member Deena Connelli. “People always enjoy this event.”
According to its mission statement, the Community Health & Wellness Center of Greater Torrington is committed to keeping communities healthy. The center, its employees, volunteer practitioners, board members, officer, and independent contractors are deemed to be employees of the Federal Public Health and Human Services. In a compassionate, patientcentered environment, CHWC services are accessible and provided without discrimination, with cultural competence, and where all people matter regardless of their ability to pay, the site says.
“CHWC offers and continues to develop a range of healthcare services for the underserved throughout northwest Connecticut, including medical, dental, chiropractic, nutrition, ophthalmology, and counseling services. It strives to achieve the reputation of “provider of choice” for affordable, high quality services that achieve positive patient outcomes in a welcoming and caring environment,” according to the statement. CHWC is the only Federally Qualified Health Center in Connecticut to receive a Health Services and Resource Association’s Health Center Program 2017 Quality Leader Award.”
CHWC is located at 469 Migeon Ave., Torrington, and 10 Center St., Winsted. It also has satellite locations in Torrington at: FISH of Torrington, 332 South Main St., Sullivan Senior Center, 88 East Albert St., Torrington Soup Kitchen, 220 Prospect St., and Oliver Wolcott Technical School, 75 Oliver St. In Winsted, locations are The Open Door Soup Kitchen, 160 Main St., and YMCA Emergency Shelter, 480 Main StFor information, call 8604890931, or visit at www.chwctorr.org and on Facebook.