Community Corner
Restaurant's Customers Rally Around Children's Mental Health Center Toy Drive
Amici Italian Grill's holiday donation drive garnered more than 100 puzzles, gift cards, board games and sporting equipment for kids staying at DCF's Solnit Children's Center.
Children in the care of the state's psychiatric hospital in Middletown this Christmas received gifts galore thanks to the generosity of all those who stopped by with toys, games and sporting equipment during Amici Italian Grill's holiday donation drive.
The Middletown restaurant, which specializes in Northern Italian cuisine, collected toys during the holiday season for the Solnit Children’s Center run by the Connecticut State Department of Children and Families.
Amici's manager Angelo Simoni was pleased with the number of donations. "This is the first year we have done the toy drive and it was a huge success," he said. "We received over 100 toys and counting."
Find out what's happening in Middletownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In the spirit of holiday giving, Amici's gave a little something back to each customer who brought in a new, unwrapped gift — a complimentary appetizer for their donation.
And give they did — everything from puzzles and gift cards to board games and sporting equipment were dropped by, a wide variety of toys for kids 13-18 and some for younger kids, Simoni said.
Find out what's happening in Middletownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"These kids will not be home with their families for the holidays and these toys and gifts will help make their holidays brighter and happier," he said.
The Solnit Children's Center in Middletown, formerly Riverview Hospital, sent out a community wide appeal in November."Many of Connecticut's children in our care do not have family to go home to during the holiday season to celebrate holiday traditions and create cherished memories," the letter read.
"We share the holiday spirit with our children, in our groups and activities. We grant the children's gift wishes as well as encourage the spirit of giving to others, and we have a variety of special gatherings, events, and traditions," it continued.
The Solnit Children's Center is the only publicly operated psychiatric hospital for children in the state managed by DCF and served 369 children in the past two years from across the state.
This 88-bed facility with eight living units treats children ranging from 11 to 18 years of age, and provides mental health treatment services and care for children who are experiencing extreme emotional and behavioral difficulties.
For the latest on all things Middletown, subscribe to our newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
