September is Hunger Action Month

Fellowship Place group photoTo support the CT Food Bank’s efforts to raise community awareness about hunger in our community, on Sept. 5 the members and staff of Fellowship Place Celebrated “Go Orange Day” by proudly wearing orange t-shirts and orange ribbons. Throughout the year, Fellowship Place receives ongoing support from the CT Food Bank, since last September we have been able to purchase over 27,000 lbs of food from them at a low cost to us. This is vital to our agency in helping us stretch our food budget and provide more than 150 free, healthy meals a day for people who attend programs on the Fellowship Place campus.

The people we serve are one of the poorest, most vulnerable populations in our community; their socio-economic status prevents them from eating 3 basic meals a day, let alone a heart healthy diet. They also struggle with unemployment, the constant risk of homelessness & poor physical health. The benefits of our campus meal program extend far beyond helping meet their immediate hunger; it also helps them focus on recovery and becoming more productive, as well as promotes the prevention of illness & improvement in quality of life.

Other community partners that have provided crucial support to our campus meal program this past year have included The Connecticut Health & Educational Facilities Authority, People’s Bank, Citizens Bank, The Suzio York Hill Companies, and First Niagara Bank Foundation. We gratefully acknowledge their generous support and are honored for their continued interest in our mission. Together we are building a stronger and healthier community.

To help raise funds for Fellowship Place’s meal program and the Connecticut Food Bank, our agency is hosting a month-long virtual food drive on the Connecticut Food Bank’s website. To make a donation or learn more about this important initiative:
1. Go to http://www.ctfoodbank.org/
2. Select “How to Help” tab
3. Select “Virtual Food Drive”
4. Select “fellowship place”

Fellowship Place receives donated Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) from Dragonheart Foundation

GuerreraThe Michael Vincent Sage Dragonheart Foundation has donated an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) to Fellowship Place’s New Haven campus facility. Fellowship Place Executive Director, Mary Guerrera, who received the device from Lauren Rossi of the Dragonheart Foundation stated “We are grateful for the Dragonheart Foundation’s commitment to building awareness about sudden cardiac deaths and how immediate access to AED’s can make a big difference in saving the life of someone in mid cardiac emergency. Our staff, who have been CPR and AED trained, will now be equipped with the lifesaving technology to react within seconds of an incident.”

According to the Dragonheart Foundation’s website, www.defibandlive.org, early defibrillation with an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) and CPR can more than double chances of survival. The American Heart Association estimates that 20,000 to 100,000 Sudden Cardiac Arrest deaths could be prevented if defibrillation was readily available. Why is the donation of an AED so important to Fellowship Place? Recent studies have shown that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of premature death among schizophrenia patients, who die from heart and blood vessel disorders at double the rate of persons without the mental disorder. Serving over 600 individuals annually who suffer from chronic mental illness in our community, Fellowship Place is thrilled to be the recipient of such a valuable piece of life saving equipment.

For more information please contact:
Melissa Holroyd, Fellowship Place Development Director at mholroyd@fellowshipplace.org
Lauren Rossi, The Michael Vincent Sage Dragonheart Foundation at mvs.dragonheart@gmail.com

Fellowship Place Members Take a 5-day Group Trip to Camp CONNRI

CampCONNRI photoThis past month, members and staff of the Fellowship Place social club took a 5-day group trip to Camp CONNRI in Ashford, CT. The camp, accredited by the American Camping Association, the State of Connecticut, and The Salvation Army, offered a variety of fun in the sun and creative activities including swimming, kayaking, hiking, arts and crafts, and so much more. An exciting time was had by all and everyone is looking forward to returning next year!

Thank You George and Paul

Wednesday, April 10, George Cottiero and Paul Bauknecht cooked and served a donated lunch for the Fellowship Place Homeless Engagement Inn. Over 15 individuals in the Inn were treated to a homemade meal. George & Paul began cooking Wednesday lunches in the Inn, in 2008. Fellowship is grateful for their years of support & dedication.

The New Haven PDCA give the Fellowship Inn a fresh new look

During the early morning hours of Friday, April 5, the New Haven Chapter of the PDCA (Painters and Decorating Contractors of America) donated their time, skills and supplies to give our Homeless Engagement Inn a fresh new look. Over a dozen volunteers arrived on our campus to help paint the inside of the Inn. Every year the PDCA does a Paint UP project for a non-profit, Fellowship Place is honored to have been selected this year. Because of their generous efforts, the men & women attending the Inn have a brighter space to come to daily.

Fellowship’s Education and Training Fair a Success

On March 26, Fellowship Place’s Supported Education Program hosted an Education & Training Fair open to the public. Over a dozen representatives from local agencies were on hand to discuss their programs, including Albertus Magnus College, Gateway Community College, Southern Connecticut State University, and University of Bridgeport.