To the Editor:

The Back Bay Mission Team of the Newtown Congregational Church would like to send a huge virtual hug to the generous members of this community who supported our recent Mississippi BBQ and Shrimp Boil with their orders and donations. We hope you all enjoyed your dinners as much as we enjoyed preparing them and seeing so many familiar faces at pick-up. While donations are still coming in and we have no final total as yet, we will soon be sending a substantial check to Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, Miss., as they gear up for yet another hurricane this week.

This low-lying area along the Gulf Coast is a prime target for hurricanes and tidal surges which so devastated the area in 2005 with Katrina. Biloxi is also home to many military veterans, often homeless and suffering the effects of PTSD. The Mission provides a day center, where people can take showers, do laundry, receive medical screening and job training, and provides an address where they may receive mail and apply for jobs. The Mission also contains a food pantry and dormitory-style building to house volunteer groups, such as ours. Back Bay Mission depends entirely on donations and your recent generosity will be greatly appreciated.

Although we will not be joining them this year, due to the pandemic, typically a group of college students volunteers in early January and an adult group in late February. Neither group is limited to church members and all are welcome. For more information on volunteering or donating, please contact the Newtown Congregational Church.

With deepest gratitude,

Donna Miklaszewski

4 Chimney Swift Drive, Sandy Hook October 27, 2020