Date: Fri 14-Feb-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

Judy-Grill-Easter-food-baskets

Full Text:

Judy Grillo Offers The Town A Basket To Fill With Caring

(with photo)

BY ANDREA ZIMMERMANN

When Judy Grillo of Tunnel Road went to Social Services to see how she might

help the community, she left with a grand idea - Easter food baskets to

brighten a week in the life of struggling Newtown families. The project

coordinator is now looking for volunteers to contribute baskets for about 50

families, and to help with distribution on March 22 at the Multi-Purpose

Building in Sandy Hook.

"I want to help people in Newtown out - do something for my town and make a

difference," said Judy. "I also want to teach my daughter, Breanne, what it

means to be compassionate, learn to help people, and through [various]

experiences appreciate that there are people who don't have what she does. And

that there is a responsibility to help them."

Judy and her husband, Scott, put flyers in neighbors' mailboxes, and just

completed a mailing to 45 individuals and 114 businesses in town. The goal of

the project is to provide one week's worth of groceries to needy seniors,

single parent or other types of families.

Judy created a list of suggested non-perishable and personal items which could

be donated along with a $20 or $25 grocery store gift certificate so

recipients can buy meats, milk, fresh fruits and vegetables, and other

perishable items. The total cost of a "basket," including gift certificate,

which would feed two adults and two young children would be about $100.

Those who are unable to supply an entire basket can purchase half or a quarter

basket, said Judy. Although the names of food recipients are kept

confidential, volunteers receive a general profile which includes the ages of

family members and their dietary restriction, if any.

"I've always had the personal need to do these kinds of things," said Judy.

"This is a project that hasn't been done before. I'm working very closely with

Social Services to make sure what I do is appropriate for fundraising."

"We [tend to] only think of people being hungry at Thanksgiving and Christmas

time, but the need is there all year round," said Karen Hoyt, assistant

director of Human Services. "Some other towns have an Easter basket program,

and I thought it would be great if someone wanted to undertake something like

that."

The families who were invited to benefit from the basket program are those who

receive services through the town, some who use the Salvation Army and FAITH

food pantries, and people who are known to be in need but may not qualify for

or request other assistance. The assistant director characterizes many of the

needy in Newtown as "the working poor."

"These may be people who don't ask for any assistance all year, but we know

they're struggling," said Mrs Hoyt. "This is going to brighten their holiday."

Mrs Grillo has already had positive responses from neighbors like Andy Sedor,

Joann Mandel and Carol Recht, as well as organizations such as the Girl Scouts

and Boy Scouts, and a few businesses.

"I think it's a wonderful idea because it's Newtown people helping Newtown

people - a wonderful way to be involved very close to home," said Mrs Recht.

Her entire family will be participating in the project. "It just gives you a

good feeling, knowing you can help out your neighbors - that's the part I

really like."

Judy Grillo is not a stranger to coordinating large, worthwhile projects. Last

year she organized two events - a family concert featuring Ernie Rettino of

Psalty The Singing Songbook, a project which involved ten churches of

different denominations and attracted an audience of 1,200; and a "humongous"

community Easter egg hunt at the Grillo's church in Brookfield (Judy made all

the natural dyes and had children help color 1,000 eggs for the event).

The Easter basket project is a little different in that people are depending

on having one of their basic needs met, said Judy. She and her husband have

established a separate telephone line where people can leave voice mail

messages, and all the people who received a mailing and those who are

participating are listed in a computer program on her laptop computer.

Being so well organized allows Judy to make a contribution even though she

works full-time as a corporate executive office manager and travels

extensively. This week and next she will be working in Asia, but intends to

check her voice mail messages daily and return Easter basket calls from

overseas.

"That way the program doesn't slow down," she said. "I wouldn't want people to

have to wait two weeks for me to call them back. I want them to know that I

care and that I'm really glad they called and want to participate."

Members of Women Involved in Newtown (WIN) are coordinating traditional Easter

baskets filled with treats to include for every child ten and under in

recipient families.

"There really are needy people in Newtown and food is one of the basic things

we can provide for them. It's an easy way to help," said Judy.

Through the Easter basket program, the joy of the spring and magic of

childhood can be shared by all.

Anyone wishing to participate in the Easter food basket project may call Judy

Grillo at 270-3315. Volunteers are needed to sponsor a family, or help

organize and distribute food on March 22 between the hours of 9:30 am to noon,

and 1:30 to 4 pm. Monetary donations are also welcome; checks may be made out

to "Newtown Easter Food Basket," and mailed to Judy Grillo, 36 Tunnel Road,

Newtown 06470. The Grillos have established a special bank account for project

contributions.