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Reminder Assistant Editor LONGMEADOW Fifty women of the Longmeadow Newcomer's Club are giving to others by getting discounts from local retailers this month. Although the club is a social onewhose purpose is to welcome new women in town through their get-togethers and meetings, members also do monthly fund-raising. Their most recent charity project was a coupon book sale that netted $1,000 for the teen living program of Open Pantry Community Services Inc. "We try to address different types of need for surrounding communities," explained Valerie Aragona, co-vice president of the group. "We like to focus on women and families." Aragona went to more than 50 area businesses seeking coupon donations for the fund-raiser. Ultimately, 15 gave her discounted deals which she translated into coupons on colored paper for 50 of these booklets. Priced at $20 each, all 50 were quickly sold to fellow members of the Newcomer's club, raising $1000 for the teen center. "We've worked with the Open Pantry before and they have about five or six different services so we thought that would be a great place to start with our philanthropy ideas," Aragona said. "We also choose programs that help people help themselves and I think Open Pantry does that the best." Several of the members were invited to take a tour of the teen center, a transitional living center for pregnant and parenting teens, when they presented the check last Wednesday. "Essentially there is correlation to the newcomers group that reaches out to new people coming to the community and these women who are new mothers with new babies who are newcomers to the world," said Kevin Noonan, director of the Open Pantry. Nicole Lussier, director of the teen living program, plans to use the money on fun outings for the teens and their children. She explained that because there is never money in their budget for a trip to the museum or to Six Flags, they never have the opportunity to go. "We were shocked with the donation because it is coming at a perfect time for us," Lussier said. "We were just talking about doing outings with them and their children to teach them how to go places in the community with their children to have fun." Next month, the club will be collecting extra towels and animal supplies for local animal rescue shelters. Longmeadow businesses who donated to the coupon book include Armata's Supermarket, Bertucci's, CVS, Dunkin Donuts, French Nails, Friendly's, Grapevine Restaurant, Longmeadow Flowers and Gifts, Longmeadow Interiors, Mon Ami Hair Design, Semolina Bread Company, Spa on the Green, Starbucks, Talbots and the UPS Store. "Essentially there is correlation to the newcomers group that reaches out to new people coming to the community and these women who are new mothers with new babies who are newcomers to the world," said Kevin Noonan, director of the Open Pantry. Nicole Lussier, director of the teen living program, plans to use the money on fun outings for the teens and their children. She explained that because there is never money in their budget for a trip to the museum or to Six Flags, they never have the opportunity to go. "We were shocked with the donation because it is coming at a perfect time for us," Lussier said. "We were just talking about doing outings with them and their children to teach them how to go places in the community with their children to have fun." Next month, the club will be collecting extra towels and animal supplies for local animal rescue shelters. Longmeadow businesses who donated to the coupon book include Armata's Supermarket, Bertucci's, CVS, Dunkin Donuts, French Nails, Friendly's, Grapevine Restaurant, Longmeadow Flowers and Gifts, Longmeadow Interiors, Mon Ami Hair Design, Semolina Bread Company, Spa on the Green, Starbucks, Talbots and the UPS Store. | ||||||
