S U M M E R / FA L L
2 0 1 4
Windham Area Interfaith Ministry
WAIMnews
PAYING
IT
FORWARD
W
hen Maria Garcia
hit Willimantic
eleven years ago
with her two young children,
she didn’t have much to call
her own except her strength
and her wits. She came to
Willimantic because her
brother is here, and she
needed a safe place. When
she asked where to go for
help, someone told her to go
to WAIM.
On her first visit she met
Genevieve Micale. They
clicked immediately, and
Maria and her children (then
six and four years old) have
called Gen “Gramma” ever
since. Gen has helped her
with far more than children’s
clothes, she says. Gen has
given her a “heads up” at
school uniform or Christmas
toy application time over the
years, and has given advice
when things got tough raising her daughter and son.
Maria came to New York City
twenty-one years ago as a
young woman from the Dominican Republic. She met
her husband, then had her
children, a daughter first,
then two years later, a son.
Over time, her husband, who
was a gang member, became very abusive toward
her. He would lock her and
the children in their apartment when he was gone,
and she couldn’t get out.
When she did go out, she
had to cover herself completely or she would get
beaten. Once he inflicted
Genevieve Micale (left) and Maria Garcia pose in WAIM’s Women’s Boutique area.
two broken ribs and large
bruises on her face. At that
and Michael. And they got
and on a recent day, picked
point, Maria knew she had
them. Vanessa graduated
up a flier to make sure the
to escape and she hit him
from EO Smith on June 17th
families in her neighborhood
over the head and ran. No
this year, and will be attendknew about the application
one in her family would take
ing UConn Avery Point in the
deadlines for school uniher in because they were all
fall. She aspires to be a
forms. “I try to show people
afraid of her husband. She
social worker. Michael is at
that you can fall down many
had her son Michael in a
Windham Tech. He has been
times but you can still stand
stroller, her daughter
studying mechanics there,
up,” she says.
Vanessa walking next to her,
but has switched to health
and only the clothes on their
for next year because he too
WAIM isn’t the biggest or the
backs, some milk and diawants to help people. They
slickest agency that provides
pers. A police officer
are simply emulating their
basic needs for people in
stopped to talk to her and
mother, who spent seven
need, but it is like a ripple in
noticed the bruises. He
years teaching and providing
the water. Genevieve
brought her to a shelter
family assistance to the
showed kindness to Maria,
where she stayed for two
mothers and babies at the
and Maria, Vanessa and
years. The case manageWindham High Day Care.
Michael will spend their lives
ment at the program was
She has been ill, but in the
giving to others. We never
what Maria needed, and
fall will continue her educaknow how each kindness
when her strength returned,
tion at Eastern Connecticut
can change someone’s life.
and she knew her husband
State University to study
Related story p. 3
was in prison, she went to
social work. “It is my passion
community college and reto help people”, she says.
ceived a certification to be a
Even now, Maria still helps
teaching assistant.
in the community by providKnowing her husband would
ing translation services for
soon be out of prison and
her neighbors. She says she
find her, she came to Conbrings them to the hospital,
necticut. Her brother was
to appointments, to WAIM.
here, and she wanted a
She passes the word about
good education for Vanessa
services in the community,
Celeb
30 Ye rating
Servi ars of
Commce to the
unity
!
PAGE 2
STEEPLECHASE
SUCCESS & FUN!
P
ut aside August 16th for the 23rd Annual Steeplechase Bike
Tour. Whether you ride or volunteer, it’s always a good time.
Steeple Chase Organizer and Volunteer, Ed Austin, says he
might not have had the idea, but he was at least in the board meeting where it was floated. It was the late ‘80’s and WAIM had a
$16,000 budget. More money was needed to grow the organization. A Bike Tour came up in conversation, and everyone liked it, so
they moved forward. WAIM and Perception Programs were partners
from the beginning, when the first ride began at St. Mary’s School
under Ernie Eldridge’s big tent. Parking soon became a problem, so
the tour moved to the mill, with headquarters on the loading dock.
Since the recent move to Eastern Connecticut State University, Ed
says “it has cut my work in half… Eastern is made for events.”
caption
GENEVIEVE MICALE is
“MA” to MANY
T
wenty-two and a half years ago is when Genevieve
Micale began volunteering at WAIM. When she retired in
1992, Gen thought she’d volunteer somewhere, and
someone at church mentioned WAIM. Then someone else mentioned the Red Cross. She spent the next 15 years at both!
How WAIM has grown. Gen started at the Maple Street site which
was small, she says. Her job was to check people in, so she got to
know everyone. She developed the registration system herself using index cards. The next location, Moulton Court, was bigger, but
hard for many people to reach with public transportation. Then the
move to Main Street and the arrival of computers meant Gen
moved to the kid’s clothes department because she didn’t want to
deal with computers. Eight years ago the children’s department
was small, but it has grown over the years. Gen is definitely in
charge of her “fiefdom,” but in a kind and loving way. “Everyone
calls me Ma,” she says, “and even Grandma now.” In some cases,
she may see three generations in a family. “I like it here,” she says.
“I particularly enjoy taking care of people. My passion is the Christmas program when the kids come to pick presents to give to their
caregivers.” You can call Gen “Ma” when you see her too. She is at
WAIM all the time, even Saturdays, “unless it snows,” she says.
Ed has been there since the beginning, and will be there again this
year. He knows the idiosyncrasies of each route, and though he
may not be on a bicycle, he paints the arrows on the tour and he
leads the sag wagons. These days he is thankful that everyone has
a cell phone so the sag wagon drivers don’t have to rely on the
kindness of strangers. One year, Ed had to tape Tricia Baker’s (now
WAIM Board president) foot to her broken pedal for her 100 mile
ride!
After 22 years, the Steeplechase has become the major fund event
for WAIM. Ed says it’s gone from $2,000 the first year, to $70,000
last year. It’s a wonderful ride for two great causes.
E
SAV
THE
E!
DAT
Please Join Us for
WAIM’s 30th Anniversary
Celebration
You join our annual Walk for Warmth.
You mentor those who need stability in their lives.
You arrange clothing and household items for in-need
families to bring home.
You partner with us in our fight against poverty.
You support our services with your generous gifts of
time, talent and treasure...
Thank You for making our work possible.
In recognition of your support, we invite you, your
family and friends to join our celebration!
Sunday, September, 21, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Franco-American Club
116 Club Road
Windham, CT
PAGE 3
WAIM REMEMBERS
SAM SHEPARDSON
and Rev. CURT
HOFFMAN
I
n the past year, WAIM has
grieved for two of our most
beloved volunteers:
Sam Shepardson (August 6,
1924—August 31, 2013)
and Rev. Curt Hoffman (March
26, 1927—April 8, 2014).
Sam was a long-time member
of the First Baptist Church of
Mansfield, and was involved
with WAIM early on. You might
have seen Sam building WAIM’s
handicap ramp with Ed Austin,
or working in his shed, fixing
one of WAIM’s donation carts.
It was always a pleasure to see
Sam when he stopped by the
office to drop something off, or
just to say hello.
Curt wore many hats at WAIM—
literally and figuratively! Curt
could be found sorting pantry
donations, gathering recycling
material, cleaning up dirt and
debris around the loading dock
area...all while wearing one of
the silly hats he found in a
donation bin. There was a time
when Curt could also be found
sitting in the Executive
Director’s chair as interim
director prior to hiring Virginia
Fulton. There was no job too
big or too small for him—all
were important.
Both gentleman worked
tirelessly to help achieve
WAIM’s goals. They each used
their humor to ease a difficult
situation. Sam with a
mischievous wink and smile,
and Curt with a quip or a story.
Their presence is missed, and
their legacy to the organization
lives on.
NEVER TOO YOUNG TO HAVE A CAUSE
by Patricia Baker, WAIM Board President
T
he Walk For Warmth (WFW) is one of WAIM's two annual signature events.
One of the greatest benefits to the event is the opportunity it offers for
children to learn that THEY can make a difference in the world. We have
heard about Olivia Baker who, at the age of 8 asked her mother "What can I do to
help people stay warm in their houses this winter?" She went on to raise $800
that year and has increased that amount every year for the past 7 years. If you
ask her how she does it she will say, "You just have to ask people you know if they
will sponsor you. Once you tell them that there are real people who will have to
live without heat in the Connecticut winter, they always give. People WANT to help
others but they don't know how.”
Olivia's passion for this cause spilled over onto some young friends in her
neighborhood who love to put up a lemonade stand. Because they learned about
the need from Olivia, they decided to donate their proceeds to the WFW. Madison
and Ryan Dunston raised over $200 just by being creative, energetic and by
wanting to make a difference! You may have followed them last year as they led
the WFW carrying WAIM's banner. There is also Aidan Anderson, who started
raising funds in elementary school and as a middle schooler raised several
hundred dollars last year! These kids feel directly connected to people in our
community who have a need, and they know they can do something significant to
meet it. They are role models for all of us.
It is now taking more money to help each family because the cost of energy is so
high, so the $30,000 raised last year was not enough to meet the need. Maybe
more grown-ups could take a cue from these awesome kids and "JUST ASK"
people around us to help us make a difference.
THIS YEAR’S WALK FOR WARMTH IS NOVEMBER 24TH!
VOLUNTEER PROFILE
W
AIM receives lots and lots of
donated used computers, keyboards, printers and add-ons
with cables galore. Usually, they are put
aside until a volunteer can assess them.
The goal is always to put a set of these
items together in working order to give to
someone who needs it. New volunteer, Leo
Young, says he’s going to help – really help.
Leo is here from China with his wife, who is
a Ph.D. student at UConn. As her spouse, he is not allowed to work for money
while they are here, but he still wants to make a contribution. Almost one year
ago, he started fixing bicycles for the Little Angels Program. Those bikes are given
away to local kids who need them. Three months ago, he started sharing his expertise at WAIM by fixing donated computers and printers and working on the loading
dock three days each week. Leo, you understand, isn’t just a volunteer, he’s a gift.
The man holds a Master’s of Science Degree in computer engineering from Yan
Shan University! We are so grateful that Leo is sharing his talents at WAIM while
he’s here in the United States.
Unless otherwise noted, WAIM News articles were written by Diane Sprague. Victoria Nimirowski served as editor and layout artist.
PAGE 4
Many thanks to the congregations, organizations and individuals who donate to WAIM on a regular basis and are the heart and soul of
our mission. The following donors have made at least one financial contribution during the past fiscal year, July 1 2013 through June 30,
2014. Hundreds more – too many to list – have donated clothing, furniture , household items or their time. We are grateful for every gift
and truly appreciate your generosity.
Individuals
Harold & Carol Abramson
Karl & Elizabeth Acimovic
Abigail Adams
Grace Adams
Kenneth & Cinnamon Adams
Priscilla Adams
Steven & Freeman Adil
Philip Yeagle & Arlene Albert
Regina Alfieri
George & Lynne Allen
Polly Allen
Michael & Edith Allison
Roy & Nancy Allison
Theodore & Linda Almquist
Henry & Beth Alves
Jay & &y Ames
Jonathan Andersen
Charlotte Anderson
Cynthia Anderson
Lana Anderson
Paul Anderson
William & Timothy Grogan
Anderson
Arthur Wood & Annamarie
Andrews
Bea Andrews
Elizabeth Andrews
Michael & Susan Angelides
Charles & Ethel Anthes
Archambault Household
Estelle Armstrong
Helen Armstrong
Lawrence Armstrong
Lucille Arsenault
Christine Ashe
Patricia Asher
Robert Asher
L & G Ash-Morgan
Janet Atkins
Donna Audet
Bernard & Anne Auger
Ed & Faith Austin
Warren & Laura Austin
Charles & Deborah Avila
Theresa Bacon
Leon & Malta Bailey
Louise Bailey
William Bailey
Maura Baker
Robert Baldwin
Rajeev & Suzanne Bansal
John & Frances Barclay
Brady Barksdale
Peggy Barron
Philip & Lena Barry
Yaakov & Eva Bar-shalom
Susan Bartholomew
John & Jeannette Bartock
Rebecca & Penny BartonZuckerman
David & Cynthia Bass
Richard & Poehlitz Bass
Yvonne Bass
Robert & Susan Esty Bauer
Alan & Beth Baumert
Andy & Barbara Baylock
Beaulieu Dickinson
Household
Leo & Sherry Beauregard
Marion Beausoleil
Curt Beck
Kathleen Beckett
Gregory Haddad & Donna
Becotte
Kenneth & Beverly Bedini
Sharon Beebe
Catherine Belanger
Ron & Judy Belek
Ellen J Bell
Gary & Gloria Bent
Bonnie Bentley
Brenda Bergen
Granville & Ursula Beschler
Stanley & Patricia Biggs
Wilfred & Judith Bigl
Thomas & Jennifer Billard
Kenneth & Jeanine Billington
Linda Bird
Harry & Honey Birkenruth
Joseph & Adeline Bissonnette
Jane Blanshard
Martin & Lynn Bloom
Thomas & Linda Blum
James & Jane Ann Bobbitt
Edward & Diana Bogue
Ruth Bolduc
Marcella Booth
Frederick & Linda Boothroyd
Carrie Boron
Eileen Furey & Shirley Boron
Helen Liz Bosco
James Boster & Cornelia
Dayton
Neil & Ellen Bourgeois
Angela Bowen
Gene & Francia Bowen
Larry Bowman
Peter & Jennifer Bradshaw
Katherine Brady
John & Elaine Brand
Marina Demos Brand
David & Cynthia Brault
Jo-Ann Bray
Maryanne Brennan
David & Ellen Faith Brodie
Jennifer Brokaw
Joseph & Susan Brosseau
Rheo & Faith Brouillard
Cindy Brown
Kevin & Cheryl Brown
Lynn & Marjorie Brown
Thomas & Gail Bruhn
John & Mary Bruno
David & Nancy Bull
Hill & &rea Bullard
Patricia Bullock
Nicholas & Lyn Buonocore
Irene Burke
Peter & Christiane Burkhard
Dennis & Diana Burns
Beverly Burr
Morris & Arlene Burr
Mark Busa & Mary Rose
Meade
George & Colette Butterick
Norman Caisse
Marjorie Caldwell
Priscilla Cale
Elizabeth Cameron
Bruce & Marcia Campbell
George Campbell
Leo & Patricia Campbell
Reid Campbell
Noreen Carpenter
Susan Carpenter
Joseph & Edith Cary
Thomas & Rachel Casey
Alice Cassells
Vivian Castelli
Donald & Janice Castle
Brian & Donna Cawley
Deborah & Raechel Chabotweingart
Celeste Champion
Joyce Chandler
Joseph & Elizabeth Charron
Robert Colwell & Robin
Chazdon
Richard & Jacqueline Cheney
Lawrence Ching
Diane Christensen & Robert
Stone
Warren & Marguerite Church
Susan Chvirko
John & MaryEllen Cillizza
Boguslaw & Beverly Ciurylo
Rebecca & Long Clark
Roland & Lorraine Cloutier
Christine Coates
Walter & Carol Cochran
Jill Coghlan
Lois Coleman
Coley Household
Jack & Jane Collins
Michael & Rosen Collins
Thomas & Elizabeth Collins
Ruben & Rodriguez Concepcion
Judith Conland
Wanda Connor
Doug & Nan Cooper
Susan Cope
Georgianne & Lee Copley
Shirley Corcoran
Alex & Jane Corl
Paul & Paula Corrente
David Corsini & Delia Berlin
Doris Cottrell
Robert & Roberta Coughlin
Peter & Anna Crawford
Ronald & Marsha Creese
Sean & Leigh Cremin
Angela Cretors
James & Anita Cunningham
Craig & Jean Cyr
Peter & Cynthia Czarnecki
Francis & Lorraine Czelusniak
Charles & Cynthia Dainton
Matthew & Stephanie Dakin
Margaret Daly
Daniel & Lyn Marra
Andrew & Dexene D'Appollonio
Debra Davis
Ridgway Davis
J & P Dawson
Ronald & Janet De Carolis
Michael Della Fera
Jeffrey & Lucy DeLuca
Steven & Lois DeMurjian
Barbara Depray
Jean Derby
Joseph & Elaine DeSilva
Robert Hackemack & Jean
DeSmet
Giselle DeVito
John & Susan DeWolf
Zoila Diaz
Richard & Karen Dibala
Bruce & Nancy Dickerman
Alex & Susan Dickinson
Peter & Nora Ann Dickinson
Arthur & Christine Dimock
Brenda Dinsmore
John & Susan Dione
Paul Dmytrasz
Kenneth Doeg
Kathleen Donahue
Mark & Patricia Donahue
Donald A. Billington Estate
William & Lois Donato
James & Judith Donnelly
Maryellen Donnelly
Peter & Beatrice Donohue
Jean Claude Doucet
Roland & Carol Doucette
Arthur B & Michele Dougherty
John & Priscilla Douglas
Paul Doyle
Janna Drake
Edna Drescher
Elaine Drew
Robert & Lynne Druge
Patricia Drum
Robert & Patricia Dubos
Kathleen Duchesne
Jakim Duckstein
Linda Duckstein
Diane Duhamel
Sonia Dunker
Dunstan Household
Christopher & Patricia Dustin
Charles Dyson
Joseph & Dorothy Eaton
Crawford & Carol Shinto Elder
Tammy Eldridge
Richard & Doreen Ellis
Walter & Mary Ellen Elwell
Kristin Emmons
Keith & Paula Enderle
David Enggas
Susan England
Paula Engler
Lynn Ereshena-Manning
Derek & Katherine Erismann
Harry & Susan Evageliou
David & Donna Evan
George & Mary Evans
Michael Coyne & Susannah
Everett
Mary Falotico
Thomas & Jane Fenton
James & Cheryl Ferguson
Robert & Susan Fernandez
Carol Fineout
Stephen & Marlyn Fiori
Calvin & Carole Fish
Frank & Anne Fitzpatrick
Patrick Flaherty
Nicole Lintereur & Mark Flinn
Bertrand & Marguerite Flynn
Lawrence & Nancy Flynn
Millicent Flynn
Deniz & Carol Fonseca
Patricia Forkner
John Fortunato & Elizabeth
Aschenbrenner
Sharon Foster-Chalecki
David & Susan Fowler
George & Josephine Fox
Janis Franklin
Ivan & Barbara Franson
Helen Fried
Todd & Mona Friedland
Patricia Gaenzler
Matthew & Heather
Galaneau
Joseph & Patricia Gallagher
Lorraine B. Gallup
Richard Gallup
Louise Garabedian
David & Lisa Gardner
Michael & Theresa Gardner
Joelen Gates
Harry & Ann Gaucher
Harry & Camille Gaucher
Elaine Gaumond
Susan Gavitt
Ted & Mary Gawlicki
Danny & Judy Gebben
Linda Geer
P A Geissler
David Gendreau
Marilyn Gerling
Charles & Barbara Giardina
Joan Gibson
Dorothy Gifford
Richard & Diane Giggey
Mr. Jean & Mrs. Mary Gilbert
George & Joan Gilbransen
James Gillespie & Tracy
Kelley
Ellen Marie Gillette
Otis & Dorothy Gilliam
Benson Ginsburg
Thomas & Marilyn Giolas
Davita Silfen Glasberg
Bill & Joan Russoniello Goba
Eric Goldberg & Katherine
Bohr
Robert & Alice Goldberg
Bruce & Sharry Goldman
Ronald & Carol Goldstein
Juan & Carla Gomez
Paul & Merrilyn Goodwin
Dawn Goracy
Sam Gordon
Edward & Susan Grace
Raymond Gray
Cathleen Greene
Suzanne E Greene
C. Walpole Griffin
Robert & Rebecca Grillo
Peter Grose & Margaret Ruth
Nye
Felix & Judith Grzych
Mark & Kathi Gudmundson
Oscar & Marguerite Guilbault
PAGE 5
Ernest & Betsy Gunn
AJR Guttay
Dennis & Elaine Guyette
Andrew & Forgione Haas
Jeanne Haas
Ruth & Judy Haddad
Wayne & Loretta Haeger
David & Janet Haines
Stanton & Sandra Hale MD
Juanita Hall
Roswell & Gretchen Hall
Spenser & Lori Hall
Nusie Halpine
Jason & Annette Hamilton
Ceceile & Marian Hanyckyj
Lois Happe
Karen Haraghey
Albert & Linda Ann Harbec
Ross & Mary Harper
Keltz & Carol Harris
Gerald Hart
Matthew & Kara Hart
Kathryn Haserick
Sandra Hastings
Peggy B. Hawkins
Winston & Norma Hawkins
Stephen & Linda Hayes
William & Susan Hayes
Mary Hayes-Siegrist
Clayton & Carol Hayward
Charlotte Hebert
Betty Heiss
Paul & Ruth Heller
Georgina Hendrick
Joseph & Cynthia Henry
Jeri Hepworth
William & Diane Hettrick
Susan Hewes
Maryann Hickelton
Joseph & Kathy Hickey
Donald & Lenora Hicks
Delbert & Rubi Hickson
Ann Higginbotham
Carol Higgins
Charles & Maria Higgins
Lawrence & Gayle Hightower
Theodore & Lucille Hill
Norman & Marsha Hilsenrad
Robert & Deborah Hippler
William & Karen Hocking
William & Marsha Hogue
Nancy Holman
Ronald & Carol Holman
Nancy Holst
Katherine Holt
George & Jane Homick
Elisabeth Houle
Michael & Jane Howard
Rev.Donald & Jan Hoyle
Janet Huber
Jonathan Hufstader
James & Cecile Hurley
Huber & Cynthia Hurlock
Richard & Carol Ingraham
Joanne Ives
Nathan & Mary Ives
Jane Jackman
John & Mary Jackman
Patti-Ann Jajliardo
Norman & Jacqueline Janes
Alice Bertha Jansen
Mary & Dawn Jarvis
Paul & Jeanne Jatkowski
Robert & Amanda Jellen
Donald & Marsha Jendrewski
Robert & Elsie Jenkins
Robert Jennette
Ann Johnson
Harry Johnson
Keith & Marietta Johnson
Scott & Kaye Johnson
William & Patricia Johnson
Irene Jones
Janet Jones
Richard & Leigh Jones
Bamman
Daniel & Melissa Jordan
David & Carol Jordan
Raymond & Theresa Kalber
BetteJane Karnes
Shirley Kassman
Leonard & Barbara Katz
Lewis & Shirley Katz
Susan Kay
Denise Keane
Andrew & Sarah Keleher
Andrea Kelley
Thomas & Heather Kelly
Elizabeth Kennard
Sean & Catherine Kennelly
Joyce Kerns
John & Kerttu Kersen
Jay & Dana Kessler
Lamia Khairallah
Timothy & Carol Killeen
Brian & Lisa King
Waldo & Linda Klein
Edith Klemark
Charles & Charleen Knapp
Dennis & Joyce Knowlton
Jim & Jane Knox
Kohn Household
Carolyn Kokoska
Ann Kouatly
Omar Kouatly
Milton & Dorothy Kozelka
Henry & June Krisch
Michael & Miriam Kurland
K. Narayan Kutty
Alice & Shane Kuzel
Kathleen Labadorf
Maurice & Mary Lacasse
James & Barbara Lacey
Johnpaul & Sarah Lacombe
Robert & Beatrice LaCombe
Timothy & Phyllis LaFlamme
Gregg & Linda LaFontaine
Mark & Shafer Lafontaine
Doris Williams Lake
Vernon & Eldred Lamb
Wally & Christine Lamb
Keith & Brenda Lambert
Marco & Linda Lambert
Mark & Jacqueline Lambert
Shakti Lane
Roger & Phyllis LaPierre
Katherine LaRiviere
Charles & Mildred Larkins
Michael & Mildred Larkins
Robert Lataille
Ruth Laughlin
William & Ruth Laughlin
Richard & Jean Lavecchia
Lavigne Household
Mark & Rogers LLC Lavigne
Leary Household
Lebanon Leos
Willem & Sheila Ledeboer
Robert & Jeanne Leduc
Scott & Rebecca Lehmann
Parise LeMaire
David & Mary Jane Lenihan
John Lepore
Brian & Margarita Lessard
Robin Lessard
Catherine Levine
James Levine
William & Karen Levine
Eugene & Linda Lewis
David & Susan Light
Carl & Julia Lindquist
Gerald & Marie Liskom
Norman & Pamela Livingston
Raymond & Bernice Lizee
Jean Lonergan
Richard & Mary Elizabeth
Long
William & Patricia Long
Denise Longobucco-Bierce
Leanna Loomer
Thomas & Hollace Lorch
Thomas & Kathi Loto
James Loughead
Elinor Lowell
Robin Lubatkin
Suzanne Ludwig
Catherine Lynch
Gordon & Bette MacDonald
Benedict & Grazina Maciuika
Allan & Patricia Maines
Robert & Stacy Malecki
Michael & Doreen Maloney
Madeleine Manning
Thomas & Marilee Manning
Paul & Adrienne Manzone
Norman & Mary Marchand
Alexander Markons
Adrienne Marks
Norman & Maryann Marrotte
David & Sherri-Ann Martin
Michael & Karen Martin
Mark & Shari Masinda
Nancy Mathis
Kirk & Lisa Matson
Frank & Shirley Mauro
Kate May
Edward & Alison Mayo
Paul & Christina Mazza
Laurie Mazzarella Ganoe
Kevin McLaughlin & Sandra
McAlduff
Thomas & Helen Mcavoy
Olive McCabe
Margaret McCarrick
Kevin & Jean Mccarthy
David & Judith McChesney
Cheryl McClain
William & Lisa McCooey
John & Lisa McCormick
Genevieve McGann
James & Patricia McGill
John & Charleen McGill
Mark & Virginia McGuire
Michael & Patricia McHugh
Richard & Kathleen McKee
John & Monica McKerracher
Anna McLain
Joe & Donna McLaughlin
Kathy Medbery
Susan Meisler
Mahmoud & Catharina
Melehy
Judith Melichar
Joseph Mellet
James & Cynthia Mello
Dorothea Mercier
Stephen Merlino & Kathleen
Mangiafico
Phyllis Meshanic
Eileen Metzgar
Harold & Judith Meyer
Gen Micali
David & Gerda Walz-Michaels
Ronald & Adelle Milavsky
Sarah Milius
Marty Milkovic & Beth Bauer
Alan & Katherine Miller
Paul & Ginny Miller
Robert & Sandra Millholen
Laurie F Millix
Peter Millman & Marie
Cantino
Martin & Michele Mlyniec
Marion Moebus
Sandra Mohammed
Kathleen Monroe
Philip & Jeanne Monty
Peter & Mary Moon
Michael & Carol Moran
Stephen & Laureen Moran
Anthony & Jeanne Morascini
David & Patricia Morency
Charles & Noreen Morgan
William & Susan Morgan
William Reese Morgan
Kathleen Moriarty
Thomas & Sondra Morrison
James Morrow
David Morse
Stanley & Cynthia Morytko
Linda Kaminski & Carol
Moulton
Neil & Jane Moynihan
William & Ruth Moynihan
Gordon & Sally Muir
John & Helen Mulkern
Kaj & Danielle Munic
Stephen & Louise Muniz
Daniel & Renee Murphy
Margaret Nagy
Mark & Letitia Naigles
Joseph Narkawicz
Paula J. Newman & Joseph
Narowski
William & Constance Neal
Donna Nicolino
Joseph & Kathryn Niemasik
Maria Niles
Victoria Nimirowski & Brian
Anderson
Patrick Small & Lori Nolin
Edward & Margaret Norris
Carol North
Laureen Novak
Elsa Nunez
Dennis O'Brien & Susan
Johnson
Robert & Margaret Oconnell
William & Caryl Okeefe
Paul Ashton & Susan
Oldershaw
David & Teresa Olio
George & Janet Oliver
Etienne & Kathleen Olivier
Nelson & Stephanie Orringer
Fred & Kathleen Otter
Robert & Frances Owens
Rosemary Pachesa
Jane Paine
Anne Palmer
Doris Palmer
Janice Palmer
Michael & Michele Palmer
Joseph Pandolfo
Ralph & Anne Pappalardo
Mark & Christine Paquette
Carol Parda-ziolka
Nancy Parker
Douglas Parks
Robert & Karen Paruolo
Dorrie Patera
Leonard Patera
Pattacini Household
Paul Brozdowski Attorney
Nancy Paulhus
Teresa Paventi
Helen Paxson Waicunas
James & Kristine Payant
Francis & Marjorie Pearson
Edward Peavy & Rebecca
Reno
Roger & Patricia Pelkey
Carol Pellegrine
Paul & Christine Pelletier
Marie Pellizari
Ellen Peloquin
Esteban Perez
Ugo & Kathleen Perini
Francis Perrotti
Alan & Gail Perry
James & Margaret Perry
Benjamin Peters & Lori Arpin
Peters Household
Joseph & Marsha Peters
Ivars & Meredith Petersons
Nancy Pettitt & Michael
Callahan
Richard & Christine Philps
Jeannette Picard
Robert & Diane Pisker
Edward & Clara Pitkin
Francis Archambault &
Barbara Pivarnik
Emil Pocock
Cherie Poirier
Rita Pollack
Gerald & Elyse Poller
Carol Polsky
John & Sandra Popeleski
John & Karen Porter
Rav Jeremy Schwartz & Merle
Potchinsky
John Potvin
Michael & Anita Powers
William & Candace Powers
John & Karri Prandy
Barbara Presson
Steven Knauf & Judith Prill
Joan Quarto
Patrice & Anita Ramm
Kenneth & Karin Randolph
Richard & Marjorie Ranger
Howard & Alice Raphaelson
Theodore & Jo-Ann
Rapphahn
David & Bertha Rappe
Barbara Rascona & Bruce
Sheridan
Anthony & Anne Rash
Robert & Diane Rasicot
Khurshed Rastomji & Della
Hennelly
Howard & Melissa Rath
Karen Ravenelle-Bloom
James & Patricia Raynor
PAGE 6
Elizabeth Regan
Francis & Johanna Reilly
James & Karen Renfro
Carl & Marian Rettenmeyer
Charles & Virginia Reviczky
Melinda Reviczky
Michael Rice
John & Grace Riesen
Peter Rimkus
Daniel & Linda Riquier
Rita Risley
Marie Ann Rittweger
Richard Clarke & Pamela
Louise Roberts
AnneMarie Robertson
Stephen & Rebecca
Robichaud
Belle Robinson
Elizabeth Robinson
John & Paula Robinson
Michael & Kathleen Romeo
Sandra Rosado
Mark & Helen Ross
Sandra Roth
Jean Rotter
Donald & Yolande Rubb
Chauncy & Nancy Rucker
Marcia Rudge
Richard & Sally Ruef
Ted & Cindy Rummel
James & Deborah Russel
James & Gisele Russo
William & Bonnie Ryan
Ben & Jacqueline Sachs
Richard & Louise Sage
Valerie Sakowski
Paul & Joann Sandshaw
Bob & Marie Santa
Ed & Jean Sawicki
Gerald Sazama
David & Deborah Scanlon
William Scanlon
Jacobus & Mary Schaab
Deborah Schaffhauser
Howard & Bonnie Schiller
Richard Schimmelpfeng
Bernhard & Jane Schreiber
Jonathan & Elena Schreiber
Paul & Susan Schur
Steven & Roberta Schwane
Doris Angel Sciremammano
Louis & Karen Scotti
Charles Searing
T. & M. Seery
Kathleen Segerson & Anthony
Grosso
Jacqueline Seide
Florence Selleck
Murphy Sewall & Virginia
Fulton
Beverly Shafer
Eleanor Shane
Carol Shapiro
Paul & Annette Shapiro
James & Susan Sharpley
Ann Shea
John & Rita Sheetz
Jaclyn Sheldon
Shirley May Shepard
Todd & Paula Shepard
Tyler & Julia Sherman
Shieber Household
Philip & Jo-Ann Shine
Benjamin & Catherine Shires
Stuart Jay & Joan Seliger
Sidney
Anne Silloway
Carol Silva
Barbara Simmons
Bruce Bernstein & Helen
Simonowitz
William & Doreen Simonsen
Joan Simpson
Beverly Sims
Nicholas & Dorothy Sinchuk
David Skeels & Patricia
Regan
George & Madeline Skinner
Randy & Denise BergeronSkoly
Elinor Skoog
Patricia Slater
Nancy Smagacz
Dorothy Smith
Jeffrey & Mary Bray Smith
Jerome & Myriam Smith
Marjorie Smith
Mark & Deborah Smith
Michael & Sarah Smith
Paul & Laura Smith
Thomas & Eileen Smith
Tiffany Smith
Edward Soboleski
David Sonstroem
Anne Soracchi
William & Sherri Sowik
Philip & Susan Spak
Elizabeth Sparks
Roland C. Spigarolo
E.Spitia
Dale & Marilyn Spooner
Virginia Stallman
Robert Starkey
Marion Stearns
Martha Stebner
Ken Dardick & Judy Stein
Phyllis Stensl &
Carl Sternat
Cynara Stites
Donald & Barbara Stitts
David & Deborah Stoloff
David & Melissa Stone
Bill Stover & Leslie Poulos
William L & William K Strand
Lucas & Kathleen Strunk
Mark & Wentworth Strunk
Stukel Household
Ligita Stukuls
Edward & Shirley Sullivan
Patricia Suprenant
Natalie & Condon Swanson
Tim & Ginger Swanson
Lesley Sweeney
John & Gail Switchenko
Patricia & Gregory Padick
Swords
Anthony Sylvester
Clarence & Ann Sylvester
Mike & Cathy Sypher
Sophie Tabor
Patricia Tanaka
Helen Tangari
Len & Barbara Tartaglia
Russell & Lisa Taylor
Donald & Susan Tepas
Jay Terbush
Tom & Lee Terry
Carol Tetzlaff
Richard & Anne Theriault
Susanna Thomas
Arlene Thompson
Avery & Cynthia Tillinghast
George & Valerie Timmins
Leonard & Virginia Todd
Audrey & Burr Tomlinson
Jing Tong
James & Kristen Tracy
John & Jennifer Traynor
Jeanne Tucker
Gregory & Jan Turansky
Anne & George Turcotte
Peter & Lisa Turgeon
Ruth Phelan Twomey
Susana Ulloa
Christine Vagell
Matthew & Wendy Vahlsing
Samuel Martinez & Monica
Vanbeusekom
Jeffrey Vegiard
Cynthia Vertefeuille
Alfred & Judith Vezina
Donald & Rita Vigneau
Ronald & Susan Vigue
Donna Vose
R. M. and Jane Wadsworth
Barbara Waldron
David & Jodi Walencewicz
Matthew & Michelle Wallace
Susan Wandell
Clifford & Vera Ward
Lisa Ward
Theresa Wassenberg
Susan Wasstrom
Gregory & Karen Watson
Paul & Patricia Watson
Watt-Welch Household
Terry & Joan Webster
Ed & Mary Wehrle
Robin Weiner
Mary & Tim Weinland
Alicia Welch
Pamela & Teply Wells
F H Wemple Jr
Helen & Linda Wenner
Roberta West
Donald & Diana Wetherell
James & Brenda Whalen
John & Christina Wheaton
Mary White
Nancy Whitehouse
John & Marjorie Wieczorek
Dana & Aliza Wilder
Robyn & Kalen Wilgus
Michael & Anne Willenborg
George & Gerry Williams
Jean Williams
Richard Williams
Ronald & Linda Williams
Marilyn Wilson
Jasmine Wolf
Richard & Lois Wolf
Paula Wollman
David Wollner
Andrew Woodcock &
Lynne Ide
Thomas & Tina Woodcock
Woods Household
Charles & Frances Woody
Diane Wright
Loretta Wrobel
Bob Wyss & Dianne Sprague
Terry & Dana Yanaway
Rudolph & Marie Yarnott
David & Suzanne Yeo
Lyle & Joanne Yorks
David & Martha Yutzey
Linda Zaccaro
Ellen Zahl
Richard Zawalich
Kathleen Ryan & William
Zenko
Gary & Karen Zimmer
Joseph & Susan Ziobrowski
Douglas & Deborah Zlatin
Kudzai Zvoma
Faith Communities
Renette's Hair Boutique
Sun On 6 Tanning &
Consignment
The Hartford
The National Institute For The
Clinical Application of
Behavioral Medecine
The White Rabbit
Travelers
Victory Energy Solutions
Weston's Antiques
Willimantic Donuts, Inc.
Foundations
Aetna Foundation
Church of The Holy Family
Community Foundation of
Colchester Federated Church
Eastern Connecticut
Columbia Congregational
Women & Girl’s Fund
Church
Community Foundation of
Congregational Church of
Eastern Connecticut
Scotland
Guilford Smith Charitable
Ebenezer Lutheran Church
Trust
First Baptist Church of
Hall Foundation
Lebanon
Jeffrey P Ossen Family
First Baptist Church of
Foundation
Mansfield
Liberty Bank Foundation
First Church of Christ
Savings Institute Foundation
Congregational UCC
SBM Charitable Foundation
First Congregational Church
The Prudential Foundation
of Coventry
Matching Gifts
First Congregational Church
Travelers Community
Willimantic
Connections
First United Methodist Church United Technologies
of Willimantic
Matching Gift Program
Hampton Congregational
Church
Organizations
Holy Trinity Orthodox Church
Altrusa
Mansfield Christian
American Truck Historical
Fellowship
Society
Roman Catholic Church of
BPOE Elks Willimantic Lodge
St. Mary
1311
Second Congregational
Dailygood By Goodsearch
Church Coventry
First Mile Llc
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
Franco American Civic &
St. Mark's Chapel
Social Inc .
St. Maurice Church
Knights of Columbus Council
St. Paul's Episcopal Church of
6199
Windham
Mansfield Lions Club
St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel
Mansfield Middle School
Storrs Community Church
Students
Storrs Congregational Church Next Step Living Inc
The Federated Church of
Poor Old Shine
Willington
Safe Havens Inc.
Soroptimist International,
Businesses
Willimantic
A & B Auto Salvage
St. Pauly Textile East, Inc.
A & B Scrap Metal LLC
SUOAF-AFSCME ECSU
Accent Carpet & Tile
Chapter
Ampersand Consulting
The Local Table Project
Annie E Vinton School Staff
Tolland High School
Bank of America
Town of Mansfield
Brennan Electric
Tree Wardens of CT Assoc.
Competitive Resources Inc.
University of Conn. League
Curriculum Research &
Willimantic Food Co-op
Evaluation, Inc.
Willimantic Lions Club
Denis Electric
Charities
General Cable
Willimantic Rotary Club
Green Building Solutions Inc . Windham County Bar Assoc.
John's Scrap Metal
Windham High School
Landon's Tire Inc.
Students
Lantern Energy
McClintock Roofing Llc
United Way
On Target Marketing &
AT&T United Way
Communications LLC
PAGE 7
Dominion Employee Giving
Program
GE United Way Campaign
ING Employee Giving
Middlesex United Way
Pfizer Foundation United Way
Campaign
United Way of Central &
Northeastern Connecticut
United Way of Greater
Philadelphia & SNJ
United Way of Massachusetts Bay & Merrimack Valley
United Way of Pioneer Valley
United Way of West Central
Connecticut
In Honor of
Adrienne Marks
Ann Shea
Anna & Peter Crawford
Mr. & Mrs. Saul Nesselroth
Anniversary
Bernice's birthday
Carol & Saul Nesselroth's
Anniversary
Carol A. Wiggins
Carol Ingraham
David W Yutzey & Lisa Pane
Diane Sprague & Bob Wyss
Diane Wright
Dick & Jane Wadsworth
Dick & Mavis Sturm
Dr. J. Grady Benson & Staff,
.Orthopedic Assoc. of Hartford
Easter
Fred & Shannon & William
Oliver
Genevieve Micali
Georgina Hendrick
Grace Adams
Gregory Bailey
Jack & Cathy Mozzicato
Jeffrey DeLuca 70th birthday
Jeri & Wayne Diederich
Joan Allison
Joan Cole 80th birthday
Joe & Donna McLaughlin
Jonathan Schreiber Happy
44th Birthday
Katherine E. Yutzey & Brian
Keane
Kay Zartun
Lenny Patera
Lucy DeLuca Birthday &
Anniversary
Marie & Gerry Liskom &
Megan & Adrian Baker
Michael & Linda Gardner
Mr. & Mrs. Luke Strunk
Mrs. Hollis Fait (Gladine)
Mrs. Sam Shepardson
Ms. Charlene Perry
Nancy & Chauncey Rucker
Passover Let all who are
hungry come and eat.
Pellegrine-Dioguardi Family
Phyllis Stensland
Purim
Ralph Marshall
Renee & Dan Murphy
Resurection Day
Richard Cheney birthday
Ruth Yeo
Sarah Moon &Daniel Warren
Marriage
Shuvuot sheaves gathered &
Torah given at Mt Sinai
Susan Hewes
The Pellegrine Grandchildren
Trish Goba-Churchill
Volunteers
In Memory of
A J Chiulli
Al Morgan
Alfred Thomas Morgan
Alice Bertha Jansen's father
All Veterans
Alva Robertson
Ann Jerue
Anna Sell
Arthur F. Connor
Baron & Elinor Bray
Bernadette Ellis, WAIM
volunteer
Bill Lonergan
Bridget S. Harold
Buck & Natalie Monty
Butch & Holly Holl
Carol Welt
Charles J. Corcoran
Christopher J. Gaffney
David
Denise Beal
Dom Tecesco
Dorr & Lydia Skeels
Doug Morgan
Dr. Frank Bird
Edward N. S. & Shaw Sr.
Eleanor Plank
Elisabeth Millette
Ethan Kokoska
Eugene J. Alassi
Francis W. Hayes
Frank & Margaret Mayshar
Fred Gifford
George Higginbotham
George Kibbe
Germaine Hall
Grace F Enggas
Hans Sells
Helen & Marian Narkawicz
Hilda Iris Negron
Howard & Harriet Cody
Howard & Joyce Fairweather
Irving & Janet Griffin
James & Stanley Romanow
James Toner
Jan Scottron
Joan Joffe Hall
Jody Newmyer
Joe & Yvonne Lemieux
John & Rita Cignoni
John A. Holzbar, Jr.
Jonah D. Gilbert
Joseph & Marsha Peters'
Parents & Family
Josephine Griffin
Joyce & Howard Fairweather
Joyce Cale
Joyce Peters
Julie Rogers
Kathleen Sanelli
Kristine Della Fera
Linda Lee Lataille
Linda Savage
Louise Garnaccia
Lucianne & George Elmore
Lynette Hagen Doeg
Madga Manfred
Marian Trexler Krum
Marjorie Myers Ginn
Mary Alassi
Mary Ellen Strand
Mary Jacobs
Mary Starkey Jefferson
Nadja Donelly
Nancy Aramini
Nancy Murray
Olive Bayless
Olive Peters & Sokolowski
family
Omer H. Norton Jr.
Orra Mott
Paige Houston
Paul Maciuika
Paul R. Caron
Peggy Davis
Ray Corcoran
Raymond F. Andrews III
Raymond G Lemaire
Robert Bowen
Rose & Richard Platt
Rose Garelick
Roy W McLain
Rufus Blanshard
Ruth Castelli
Sophie Nessel
Stephen Godere
Sue Graham & Eric Kalber
Reverend George K. Evans
Thomas Bull
Thomas J. Burke
Wally Niemasik
Plan for the future….
LEAVE A LEGACY...As much as we hope that in thirty years there won’t be a need for organizations like WAIM, our experience
tells us that there will always be people who have lost their jobs, who are living with a disability, or fleeing a domestically violent
situation; those who are newcomers to the area and those who have just weathered a family crisis. We hope that WAIM will be
there to offer a hand up to these people just like we’ve been there for the thousands of people who have received WAIM’s help
over the past thirty years. If you are interested in leaving a legacy gift to WAIM to help ensure that our services are available for
the next generation, please contact Victoria Nimirowski at 860 456-7270.
SAVE SOME CASH….Did you know that if you open a TD Bank Checking, Savings, Money Market of Certificate of Deposit account, or if you are already a TD Bank customer, you can raise funds for WAIM simply by saving! Choose WAIM as your Affinity
Organization, and you will help us raise funds for our work. Stop by or Call Carol Polsky at the TD Bank Mansfield Store, 860
465-2782, and let her know you’re interested in supporting WAIM.
SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY...This Fall, WAIM and other United Way partners will be visiting workplaces across the 40-town
capital region to raise funds and awareness of the many different programs supported by United Way. Thousands of people
benefit from United Way funding, and your donation touches the lives of many in need, here in Willimantic and beyond. As a
member agency, WAIM receives a fixed amount of allocated funds from the United Way as long as our programs perform up to
their standards. We also receive a substantial amount of funding through donor designations. Please consider making a
donation to the United Way Campaign at your workplace. If you donate to the community fund, United Way
will use your donation to fund programs and initiatives that have proven success in their areas of expertise.
You may also choose WAIM to be a recipient by using code 5111 on the Employee Giving Form.
The mission of the Windham Area Interfaith Ministry is to uplift and unite our community by providing
caring service and resources to meet our neighbors’ needs with dignity and respect.
WAIM
P.O. Box 221 (for all mail)
866 Main Street
Willimantic, CT 06226-0221
Non-Profit Organization
US Postage Paid
Willimantic, CT 06226
Permit No. 84
From a partner provider: I met with one of my clients today for their first time. Her life is really challenging but she is really working
hard to better everything. She is a single mom with three children one has Autism. This women spent 14 years in an abusive relationship
with her partner who has no interest in taking responsibility for his children. She has made such progress in the barriers she has had to
overcome including sexual assault and physical abuse by parents. She reported that her family has no home PC. I was wondering if I
could call on you once again to request her access to WAIM. (WAIM is in the process of putting a system together for this client.)
Last Fiscal Year….
8,006 visits were made to WAIM for clothing.
10,905 units of material goods (clothing, furniture, appliances, etc.) were given to community members.
1,011 donation pick-ups were made using our truck.
374 households received energy assistance – heat or electricity.
188 households received case management or connection to other services.
79 families were adopted through our Adopt-A-Family program
87 children selected holiday gifts for their caregivers through For Kids Only.
81 teenagers received holiday vouchers through Gifts for Teens.
395 children received Back-to-School vouchers for new clothes.
145 low-income households received emergency help for unmet needs, rental or transportation assistance.
225 individuals Walked for Warmth.
633 people volunteered 9,619 hours - the equivalent of 5 full time employees.
Ann (not her real name) is a recently divorced mother of four. Her ex-husband was delinquent in his child support payments and she
began falling behind with her bills. She was also recently diagnosed with a debilitating illness and could no longer work. A homeowner
who has worked hard all her life, Ann never imagined herself in this situation. She was worried about losing her home and taking care of
her children, but she had no idea how to get help. She finally came to WAIM where she got 100 gallons of oil delivered to her home, and
funding for her electric bill. WAIM staff walked her through an on-line benefit survey and found she was eligible for SNAP (formerly food
stamps) and also referred her to another community partner for foreclosure assistance. She left WAIM hopeful, wearing a smile and
crying tears of relief.