Gifts of Love in Need of More Donations

Food and clothing donations to Gifts of Love are up from a year ago, bolstered by donations from the non-profit Foodshare and the many individuals, organizations and churches who continue to send a steady stream of canned and bottled goods and other items. But Executive Director, Diana Goode wants people to keep in mind that nearly any gift could make a difference to the non-profit organization and the 350 families it serves in the Greater Hartford Area. "Travel samples and hotel giveaways that most people throw out can be very useful to our clients," Goode stated. "These include shampoos, toothpaste and soap. Why throw away items when they can go to someone that really needs them?"

Also, not surprisingly, financial contributions to Gifts of Love are substantially lower this year. But Gifts of Love continues to focus on its families in need, including 30 total from towns of Avon, Simsbury, Canton and Farmington.

The families are allowed a monthly appointment where they are allowed to take home a week's worth of non-perishable food, personal hygiene products, napkins, plates and Toiletries. Clothing is also available with sizes ranging from infants to adults. Bed linens, curtains, towels, pots and pans, dishes and a variety of small appliances are given when available to individuals that need them.

Gifts of Love also provides needy families with furniture, such as beds, cribs, tables and dressers, that people have donated. It also helps with Budgetary counseling and helping to arrange for people to take classes at Goodwin College.

The organization's reach has certainly extended greatly since it was originally formed in the basement of a woman's home in Simsbury in 1989. It started off as a woman recycling her children's clothes and storing unused and extra food in hopes of giving these items to people of less financial means. Soon enough, when the woman's neighbors started contributing their extra food and clothes, a larger space was needed and after they eventually ended up in their current location in Old Avon Village just off of Route 44 in Avon.

The organization is helping more and more people according to its Web site. Gifts of Love delivered 8,651 bags of food and 1,842 bags of clothes in 2007. That was increase of 43 and 42 percent respectively from the prior year. With the increase of mortgage foreclosures, lay offs and rising food and gas prices, those numbers will increase in 2008 and 2009. Already some Hartford area clients have had trouble even making it to their monthly appointment, due to the high price of gasoline.

Goode encourages families that need the extra help to come down. Many of the individuals they service have lost a job, gone through a divorce, had a spouse deployed overseas or even suffered the death of a loved one. Many families will find it harder to put food on the table while they struggle with other bills such as heating oil. According to their website, Gifts of Love is also a designated agent for Operation Fuel and helps with the payment of utility bills. However, not everyone will seek help even if they need it. "Some people want to do everything to avoid coming to a non-profit like ours. Others don't know where to turn and don't know about us," Goode stated. "We 're here to help these people out." Denise Phillips is the program manager of Gifts of Love and is the person that handles all inquiries.

"Individuals and families need to be referred by a case worker, a school social worker or a rabbi/minister. If people don't have access to these types of people then they should contact us," Phillips said. "As far as people concerned about the stigma of coming here, everything is handled here confidentially."

Phillips also stated that the increase in gasoline and heating fuel is hitting many families hard. "We've already had many phone calls concerning winter heating bills. People are worried. We have also had clients struggle to get here because the gasoline prices are so high." Phillips said. Many of the volunteers that assist are glad to help others in need. Gifts of Love prides itself as an organization that provides a helping hand to others so that they can be self sufficient. They rely heavily on volunteers. Many are from high schools and others are retirees and housewives.

"We've had many clients improve their situations. Many of them come back and contribute to us financially or through various services." Goode said. "It's bittersweet when they no longer need to use our services. You're happy to see them improve their lives but at the same time you establish relationships with these people and when they leave, you miss that." Gifts of Love is always looking for clothing, food, furniture, monetary donations, and volunteers. They are located at 35 East Main St. in Avon and have a Web site at www.giftsoflovect.org/. If you or someone needs to inquire about the services of Gifts of Love you can call Denise Phillips at (860) 676-2323 or e-mail her at dphillips@giftsoflovect.org.