ShareFest Returning This Weekend

DANBURY — The City of Danbury will welcome ShareFest on May 6 and 7. The community service event benefits low-income seniors and area children in the greater Danbury area.

Individuals and families are encouraged to discover and participate in volunteer and donation opportunities on Sunday, May 7, from 11 am to 4:30 pm, at Danbury High School, on Clapboard Ridge Road.

 “The first ShareFest in 2004 was the first of its kind in northeast America and was a huge success. The plans and number of participants this year are even greater, and the outreach and assistance services that the event will bring to the Danbury and greater Danbury communities are greatly appreciated, and will make a vital difference to those in our community who are in need,” said Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton.

The 2nd Greater Danbury ShareFest will mobilize nearly 1,600 volunteers from 43 area churches in ten surrounding towns. Volunteers will gather on Saturday, May 6, to provide service and labor to 40 different work projects. Work projects will include painting, landscaping, cleaning, and refurbishing of public housing and children and social service facilities.

Danbury alone will receive assistance with 15 citywide improvement projects. Danbury Housing Authority, Dorothy Day Center, and Danbury’s Amos House are just a few of the work sites.

The Festival of Giving on May 7 will provide visitors with one of the largest blood drives in Connecticut and a nonperishable food, coats, diapers, formula and new toy drive.

The Marine Corps’ Toys For Tots will get an early start to its annual program and a free Amber Alert Child registry will take place at the high school along with free lead screening for children under 6.

A health fair, free adult vision screening, organ and bone marrow donor registry, and a nonprofit fair will be available as well.

Everyone is also invited to join in the event’s success with a celebration at 7 pm at Western Connectucut’s State University’s O’Neill Center.

For additional information contact Elisa Munoz at 797-4511 or Tim or Noelle Mathewson, ShareFest Directors, at 205-0182.