Windsor Food & Fuel Bank Presents Volunteer & Support Awards

The Windsor Food & Fuel Bank has presented its 2024 Volunteer and Support Awards.

“It takes the dedication of many volunteers, along with generous donations from individuals, businesses and organizations, to help meet the needs of the growing number of Windsor residents who seek assistance,” explains Joanna Gould, President of the Windsor Food & Fuel Bank’s Board of Directors. “We believe it is extremely important to recognize and thank those for their help, and that is why we present our annual awards.” The all-volunteer Board, with its partners at Windsor Social Services, works all year round to accomplish its mission of ensuring that no town resident goes hungry, is cold, or goes without basic necessities.

Honored are Windsor resident Marjory (Marj) Berky, Team Paragon Robotics, Inc. in Windsor, and Windsor Federal Bank. The awardees and their guests were welcomed by President Gould, by Mayor Nuchette Black-Burke, and by State Rep. Jane Garibay, a past president of the Windsor Food & Fuel Bank, who also presented proclamations from the Connecticut General Assembly.

“Our honorees all stepped forward to help their neighbors and are wonderful models for the rest of our community,” adds Gould. “We hope they inspire others to get involved with the Windsor Food & Fuel Bank too.”

WIN-TV recorded the full ceremony that can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/sKkVFxGplZU?si=VEUO-8V_smmFhsuG or at www.win-tv.org in the On Demand section.

The three honorees: Windsor resident Marjory (Marj) Berky has been a dedicated, reliable Windsor Food & Fuel Bank volunteer since 2016, and has helped in so many ways over the years. She does program packing and weekly home deliveries throughout the school year for the Weekend Wheels program. She also oversees the organization and distribution of books to Weekend Wheels students several times throughout the year. This involves sorting the books, labelling them for each student participant to make sure they get an age-appropriate book and then getting them sorted into delivery routes. She also helps to pack winter goodie bags for children. When COVID, Marj continued to volunteer for Weekend Wheels doing home deliveries with her husband to make sure that families were still able to get their much-needed food. In addition, Marj volunteers every other week for Mobile CT Foodshare distributions. She has also worked many food bank shifts and has volunteered for the Groceries to Go senior food program over the years. Windsor residents and families have more food on their tables because of her ongoing dedication to volunteering with the Windsor Food & Fuel Bank.

Team Paragon Robotics, Inc. is a FIRST Robotics organization located in Windsor that is comprised of students from Windsor and the surrounding area. There are four robotics teams with students who range from ages 9 through high school. Two of these teams are the Blazing Spirits and Team Paragon. Teaching students about community programs that help make Windsor a wonderful town is an important component of this organization’s mission. Since 2018, these students have planned, publicized and coordinated events to benefit the Windsor Food & Fuel Bank. They include Turkey and 20 Food Drives and food collections during FIRST robotics competitions held at Windsor High School where teams from throughout Connecticut bring nonperishable food items for our food bank. These efforts have raised thousands of dollars and lots of food for Windsor residents in need. And the work and kindness of these leaders of the future is inspiring. (The award was accepted by Elise Carroll, Lead Mentor of the Blazing Spirits, and David Furie, a Mentor of Team Paragon, with several student Team members.)

Windsor Federal Bank has shown outstanding dedication to supporting the Windsor community and the mission of the Windsor Food and Fuel Bank through a number of impactful initiatives. Twice each year, Windsor Federal Bank holds its Community Shred Day event, fully staffed by their employees. This event not only provides the community with free shredding for their sensitive documents, but it also encourages participants to bring non-perishable food donations. Each Shred Day generates between 5,000 and 7,000 pounds of food and approximately $1,000 in monetary donations that go directly to help local families in need. Windsor Federal Bank also is a proud sponsor of the annual 5K race with Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Center in Windsor that benefits our Weekend Wheels program. It is heartening to see their employees not only sponsor but also participate in the race, demonstrating the bank’s commitment on a personal level. Windsor Federal Bank has also embraced food pantry donations as a core focus across all the communities they serve, bringing their Matching Gifts Program to life. This program encourages employees and directors to contribute, with each dollar matched by the bank. The ongoing support from Windsor Federal Bank has had a significant impact on the Windsor Fuel & Food Bank’s operations and has strengthened its ability to serve. The dedication, generosity, and the active involvement of its leadership and employees are invaluable. (The award was accepted by Luke Kettles, President & CEO of Windsor Federal Bank)

The Windsor Food & Fuel Bank is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was founded in 1967 as the Windsor Community Service Council (WCSC). The all-volunteer Board, along with our partners at Windsor Social Services, works to accomplish our Mission of ensuring that is to ensure that no Windsor resident goes hungry, is cold, or goes without basic necessities. The generosity of local individuals, businesses, civic and religious organizations provides for 95 percent of the WF&FB’s annual operating budget. If you are a Windsor resident and not a current client of the Windsor Food & Fuel Bank but find yourself in need of food assistance, call the Windsor Social Services office at 860-285-1839, Mondays through Fridays. Information is also available at www.townofwindsorct.com/social-services and at www.windsorfoodbank.org