More Than $100,000 Collected Locally –

Collections Continue For Relief Efforts

By Tanjua Damon

With recovery efforts continuing at “ground zero” in New York City in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the Newtown community is still donating money to help support the volunteers and the victims’ families.

Through various fundraising efforts, more than $100,000 has been collected so far.

The Newtown Emergency Services have been collecting money to donate to the New York Firefighters Children’s Fund since the chaos began. The community has donated more than $91,100 to the fund so far. The group will continue to collect for another month or so and then send the money to New York in November.

Hot Shots II will be holding a benefit October 13 with all proceeds going to the New York Firefighters Children’s Fund. There will be several bands — Jen Taylor & Carrie, Gutter Boogie Band, and Mopin’ Sauce on hand to entertain. The festivities begin at 1 pm and I-95 will broadcast live.

A group of Newtown children who sold candy, drinks, and patriotic trinkets presented Bill Brunetti from Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company with an $1,800 donation. The group of Danny and Laura Bittman, Maggie and Katherine Donohue, Jennifer Smith, and Josh Zimmerman raised $600 selling, but were able to added additional funds thanks to matching grants from companies where their parents work, IBM and Gartner.

“[I did it] for the kids who lost their moms, dads, and families,” Danny said. “For those who lost their lives and the people who lost their lives on the planes.”

 “It makes me feel really good to help all the children that lost their families,” Laura said. “It makes you feel like you are doing something good for the nation.”

Newtown Oil Company has also distributed American Flags to area business that community members can purchase and have their name displayed. All the money for this will also be donated to the efforts of Newtown Emergency Services. Anyone wishing to make a donation to this fund may do so at Newtown Savings Bank on Main Street.

The hair stylists at Ricky’s Salon and Spa raised more than $4,000 for the victims of the September 11 tragedy through the cut-a-thon they held recently.

Other community members have also been helping collect money to help other organizations like the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and AmeriCares.

Erin Daily, an eighth grader at Newtown Middle School, put her creativity and patriotism to work with the help of her brother, Michael, and friends, Sarah McSweeney, Laura Nadriczny, and Kerrie Canavan. Erin remembered a craft she made in elementary school with safety pins and colored beads. She created red, white, and blue flag pins that she sold with all the proceeds going to the disaster relief. Many of her customers were teachers at the middle school, passers-by at the General Store and people at her parents’ offices. Community members like Dr Gellert have also made orders, which Erin hopes to fill to add to her donation to the American Red Cross. The donation will be about $900.

Newtown High School freshman Alyssa McIntyre started a fund – WTC Police & Firemen Memorial Fund. The account at People’s Bank on Queen Street has collected almost $2,000.

Students in cluster 6-E at Newtown Middle School washed cars on September 29 to do their part in raising money to help those of the September 11 disaster. The students used the parking lot at St Rose to shine community cars, which raised $747.25.

Carolyn Wyman of The Boulevard started a street chain fund drive in her neighborhood asking people to add money to an envelope and send an envelope along to another street in Newtown to collect funds too. The fund at First Union Bank on Queen Street has $1,658 in it so far. Anyone wishing to donate may do so until the end of October. All of the money will be given to United Way of New York City to help victims and families.