The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Celebrating ‘resilience’
FISH thanks groups and individuals for tireless support amid pandemic struggles
LITCHFIELD — When Connecticut shut down in early 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, Friends in Service to Humanity Executive Director Deidre Houlihan DiCara was frightened.
FISH runs a residential shelter for homeless men and women, as well as two apartments for families, and a food pantry that feeds hundreds of people every week. It depends on donations of food and funds from businesses and organizations to keep it going. With many stores closed, businesses struggling and people out of work, things were precarious.
Now, a year-and-a-half later, FISH is going strong, thanks to tremendous support from Torrington and beyond. To let everyone know how grateful she is, DiCara threw a party Wednesday night under a tent in the parking lot of the Litchfield Community Center, and
invited a few hundred people. She wanted to say thank you.
“I didn’t know what we were going to do,” DiCara said. “Thinking back to our darkest days in March 2020, when we worried for everyone’s health and safety, and we launched ‘Team Stay Healthy’ in the shelter; when we stressed over funding the agency to continue services to our most vulnerable; and when there were food shortages — you all stepped up.”
“A FISH Celebration of Resilience – Thanks for the Miracles” celebrated “our heroes; our angels; our loyal sponsors; and our FISH staff and volunteers, who have tirelessly and bravely served on the frontlines of our (pantry and shelter) throughout the coronavirus pandemic, never missing a beat, always serving our neighbors in need,” DiCara said.
FISH board President Steven Caruso said DiCara was responsible for the shelter’s and food pantry’s survival and success, every day. “She’s the glue that keeps it all together,” he said.
The recipients of small, gold trophies adorned with stars and certificates of appreciation ranged from John Pepper of Washington and New York, who made donations from the New York Sky Blues (English) football team, which were matched by Dymax, based in Torrington; and Jack Baker and his brothers, owners of the Litchfield Distillery, who made hand sanitizer, gave it away for free and collected more than $43,000 in donations for FISH.
Volunteers were cited for their willingness to drive, pick up and deliver food donations and other supplies, including Bill Harding, members of St. John Paul the Great Church, which held weekly food drives, and the Lakeridge community, which annually grows fresh vegetables in a “FISH garden” and collected more than $22,000 for the shelter in 2020.
“These people go above and beyond,” DiCara said.
George Noujaim, owner of Noujaim’s restaurant in Winsted, also was lauded for his support. When businesses signed up for Friends of FISH and provided hot meals for shelter residents, Noujiam filled in on days when no one was signed up. “George is one of our angels,” DiCara said. “I can always call on him, and he’s always there to help. He has a huge heart.”
FISH also recognized the Northwest CT Community Foundation and the Connecticut Community Foundation for their efforts to bring funding to FISH with their GiveLocal and Northwest Corner Gives campaigns. The Torrington Area Health District, EdAdvance, Food for Neighbors, the United Way of Northwest Connecticut and its director, Owen Quinn, Sister Rosemarie Greco and fundraiser Erica Koenig, who held designer purse bingo games on Zoom and donated the proceeds to the shelter, all were recognized.
The accolades went on, with many more individuals and families thanked for their efforts, as well as the shelter staff.
“We’re forever grateful,” said DiCara.
Joseph’s House founder Joe Mazzarella helped by holding the shelter’s annual coat drive, distributing more than 600 new and gently used coats to men, women and children in the fall. John and Corky Lavieri bought new coats for the drive, and a knitting group led by Kristin Hashmi made hats, scarves, mittens and lap blankets to accompany the winter clothing distribution. Brooker Memorial, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital and Trinity Church collected food and donations and gave away masks. Alan Borghesi, Cynthia Oneglia and Dan Oneglia were recognized for “always being there for us,” DiCara said.
For FISH to continue, volunteers and donations are always needed. To reach FISH, call 860-482-7300, visit fishnwct.org or email ddicara@fishnwct.org.