Middlewoods of Farmington Extends Helping Hands this Holiday Season

Farmington, CT (November 30, 2015) - Residents and staff at Middlewoods of Farmington Assisted and Independent Living Community are making the holiday season a bit brighter this year by reaching out to their local community... and beyond! During November, the community served as a drop-off point for the Farmington Food Pantry and collected six boxes of non-perishable food items to help stock the shelves in time for the holidays. Along with the food drive, Middlewoods also proudly participated in “Operation Christmas Child,” with Samaritan’s Purse, an International Relief organization based in North Carolina. The community collected shoe boxes filled with small gifts, which are then hand-delivered by the organization to needy children around the world. Staff, residents, and families of Middlewoods of Farmington organized the collection and donated eighteen shoe box gifts together with the Middlewoods Resident Council, which covered the cost of shipping for the boxes.

“Giving back to the community is something our residents are truly passionate about,” shares Middlewoods of Farmington Executive Director, Katie Mauriello. Throughout the year residents and staff volunteer their time and work together for several community projects including: feeding the hungry in Bushnell Park, hosting a pasta dinner and raising funds for Relay for Life, reading to local kindergarten students, wrapping holiday gifts for others, and more. “We work together with our Resident Council in these efforts and feel very blessed to have their ideas and support to help so many great causes,” says Mauriello.

This week the community donated a fully decorated Christmas tree (a group project that involved residents and their families) for the Wadsworth Atheneum’s annual Festival of Trees and Traditions. Residents are also currently collecting items for a mitten tree to benefit The House of Bread in Hartford. To learn more about Middlewoods of Farmington or to drop off a donation for the mitten tree, please contact Ginny Brown at 860.284.5700 or visit www.middlewoodsoffarmington.org. Middlewoods of Farmington is located at 509 Middle Road in Farmington and is affiliated with the UConn Health Center. The community is owned and operated by United Methodist Homes (UMH), a local not-for-profit organization based in Shelton, CT.

Photo: Pictured in the photo are Middlewoods of Farmington residents David Kruh (left) and Blanche Trudeau (right) with shoebox gift donations for Operation Christmas Child.