Ocean State Job Lot customers donate backpacks for kids in need

TORRINGTON — Ocean State Job Lot, with 146 stores throughout the Northeast, is pleased to announce that its recent “BuyGive-Get” program recently resulted in the collection of 30,000 backpacks, all of which are being donated to the children in need, including children of military families, prior to the start of the 2021-22 school year, according to a statement.

As part of the “Buy-Give-Get” program which ran from July 8 to Aug. 2, any customer who bought a backpack at OSJL for $15 and gave it back to the store as a donation to children in need, got a $15 Crazy Deal Gift Card to be used for a future purchase at any Ocean State Job Lot store.

The Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation partnered with the New England Patriots Foundation and the USA Veterans Military Support Foundation, both of which collected school supplies through their own networks as part of the program, to distribute the backpacks to children in need, including children of military families, across the region. On Aug. 17, volunteers from OSJL’s stores and Rhode Island-based distribution center and corporate office gathered at Foxborough Terminal near Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., to help stuff a portion of

the backpacks with donated school supplies. Beginning Aug. 18, the school supply-stuffed backpacks were distributed to children across New England, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

“The results of our ‘Buy-GiveGet’ program are a true testament to our customers’ generosity and a salute to the military families in our communities,” said David Sarlitto, Executive Director, Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation. “With our customers’

support and the help of the New England Patriots Foundation and the USA Veterans Military Support Foundation, we’re working to deliver all 30,000 of these backpacks before the first school bells ring in each of the states where we have stores.”

Thomaston Savings raises money for homeless project

THOMASTON – Thomaston Savings Bank employees raised $2,045 for the Brian O'Connell

Homeless Project. The Bank’s Denim Days allow employees to wear jeans on Fridays throughout the month for a small donation to a preselected local non-profit which provides vital services to the community. If employees donate a total of $1,000 or more throughout the month, the Bank will contribute an additional $1,000 to that month’s cause, according to a statement.

The Brian O’Connell Homeless Project is an organization that collects donations to aid in providing those who are homeless with food and services. Donations are used for two main goals; providing Brian Bags and building mobile showers. Brian Bags contain basic necessities which include a first aid kit, food and other items to help with well-being. Mobile showers are built to encourage and improve hygiene and conditions for those who are facing troubled times. The organization also accepts and encourages volunteers and prayers.

Nonprofits receive grants from foundation

TORRINGTON — The Northwest CT Community Foundation recently awarded grants to 21 area nonprofit organizations, totaling $102,150 during its second grant cycle of 2021, according to a statement. The Community Foundation awards discretionary grants to Northwest Connecticut charities three times a year: early spring, late June and late fall.

Among the recent awards were $2,500 to Connecticut Arts Alliance to support Raise Your Voice, a pilot program to amplify the voices of small arts organizations; and $3,000 to Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters to support CommunityBased/Virtual Mentoring for students

Other recipients: After School Arts Program received $3,250 to support summer camp transportation costs for 40 participants from Torrington and a First Aid Director for all campers (from the Northwest Connecticut Philanthropy Fund, Borghesi Family Fund, and Edwin M. Stone and Edith H. Stone Fund)

The American Mural Project, $5,200 to support materials for the viewing platform guardrails (from the Edwin M. Stone and Edith H. Stone Fund)

The Cabins, $5,000 to support collaborative and interdisciplinary solo and group retreats for the creative community in 2021 (from the Keroden Endowed Fund and the One Twenty One Fund, a donor-advised fund)

The Cancer Care Fund of the Litchfield Hills, $10,000 to support gas and food cards for low-income cancer patients (from the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund)

Connecticut Arts Alliance, $2,500 to support Raise Your Voice, a pilot program to amplify the voices of small arts organizations (from the Marion Wm. & Alice Edwards Fund)

Cornwall Social Services $5,000 to support general operating expenses (from the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund)

First Congregational Church of Barkhamsted, $5,000 to support the cost of repairs in order to reopen the basement level community meeting hall for public use (from the Douglas and Janet Roberts Fund)

Healing Hoofbeats of CT, $2,000 to support a new shelter building (from the Robert V. Carr Fund)

LARC, $5,100 to support the cost of a lift at one of LARC's group homes (from the Edwin M. Stone and Edith H. Stone Fund)

Little Britches Therapeutic Riding, $1,500 to support general operating expenses (from the Edward W. Diskavich Fund)

McCall Center for Behavioral Health, $4,950 to support the cost of cell phones and cell phone cards for low-income clients accessing telehealth services (from the Robert Venn Carr, Jr. Fund and the Fred and Josephine Bruni Fund)

Northwest Connecticut YMCA received$6,750 to support the purchase of a digital fundraising platform (from the Eva M. Coty Fund)

Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters received $3,000 to support Community-Based/Virtual Mentoring for eight students (from the Eva M. Coty Fund)

Oliver Wolcott Library received $6,600 to support an eight-week virtual literacy course for 40 children and their families to reinforce and boost reading skills (from the Keroden Endowed Fund and the Feliciano & Lydia Turri Zaccheo Fund)

Pilobolus received $5,000 to support BLOOM, A Journey, a family-friendly driving adventure featuring performances and morning wellness sessions (from the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund)

Planned Parenthood of Southern New England received $5,000 to support the cost of healthcare services for low-income patients who qualify for Planned Parenthood's Torrington Fund for Access (from the Northwest Connecticut Philanthropy Fund and the Women & Girls Fund, a donoradvised fund)

SOAR Educational Enrichment received $4,600 to support continued virtual programming for Fall 2021 due to COVID-19 (from the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund and The Echo Valley Foundation Fund, a donor-advised fund)

Valley Thrift Shop received $7,500 to support general operating expenses (from the Marion Wm. & Alice Edwards Fund)

The Voice of Art received $7,500 to support a free, outdoor, juried fine art show in hybrid (live and virtual) format (from the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund and the Robert B. and Cheryl Freehill Pauls Fund, a donor-advised fund)

Warren Church Community Childcare & Preschool received $3,700 to support replacement flooring, new area rugs and safety gates for two classrooms (from the Eva M. Coty Fund, Brooks Bank Fund, Torrington Club Fund, and Fleet General Fund)

The Winsted Phoenix received $3,000 to support general operating expenses (from the Keroden Endowed Fund)

Ocean State Job Lot / Contributed photo Representatives from Ocean State Job Lot help stuff backpacks with donated school supplies in Foxborough, Mass.