MONROE, Conn. — Union Savings Bank, which has a branch at 411 Monroe Turnpike, recently donated $5,000 to the Monroe Food Pantry as part of a campaign awarding the same amount to food pantries in all of the communities the bank serves, including Danbury, Bethel, New Fairfield, Norwalk, Litchfield County, Kent and Washington-Depot.
Ray Giovanni, manager of Monroe’s branch, presented a check to Monroe Food Pantry Coordinator Eddie Lui. He was accompanied by relationship specialists Lisa Mayer and Phyllis Moffett.
“After the holidays we lose a lot of momentum and this $5,000 will go a long way for our perishable items, like milk and eggs,” Lui said. “Union Savings Bank has always been generous to us. This is the second large donation of the year.”
Earlier in 2025, Union Savings Bank had made another $5,000 donation to the food pantry.
Lui said the Monroe Food Pantry gives out an average of 5,000 pounds of food per month to town families in need.
Lions Shoe Collection Drive
A shoe collection drive will be held in the Monroe Congregational Church driveway, 34 Church St., on Saturday, Jan. 24, to benefit the Monroe Food Pantry and the Monroe Lions Club’s Scholarship Fund for graduating Masuk High School seniors. It will be going on from 9 a.m. until noon.
The Monroe Lions will accept donations of new or gently used shoes, sneakers, boots, etc., of all sizes. The shoes will be given a second chance and make a difference in people’s lives around the world. For information, send an email to monroelionsclub8985@gmail.com.
The Monroe Lions Club will earn funds based on the total weight of the pairs of gently worn, used, and new shoes collected, as Funds2Orgs will issue a check for the collected shoes. Those dollars will benefit the Monroe Food Pantry and Monroe Lions Clubs Scholarships.
All donated shoes will then be redistributed throughout the Funds2Orgs network micro-entrepreneurs in helping them create, maintain and grow small businesses in developing countries where economic opportunity and jobs are limited. Proceeds from the sales of shoes collected in shoe drive fundraisers are used to feed, clothe, and house their families. One budding entrepreneur in Haiti even earned enough to send her son to law school.
Foster families needed
The Annie C. Courtney Foundation is reaching out to compassionate individuals willing to open their hearts and homes to children and teenagers in foster care across Connecticut. By becoming a caregiver, you can play a vital role in helping a child and their family heal. With over 3,500 children-teens in care (newborn to age 18) the need is urgent for individuals and families to consider fostering.
The decision to foster is a significant commitment, but there is an urgent need for caring individuals for children of all ages, especially those on the autism spectrum, as well as teenagers and sibling groups who long for a stable and loving environment.
As a foster caregiver, you’ll be supported every step of the way and have access to a wide range of resources. Foster families receive assistance with medical and dental care, along with a daily stipend to help cover the costs of raising a child. Regular visits from social workers ensure you have ongoing support for both you and the child in your care. Additional services are available for those children who may need extra help.
To learn more or to attend a free two hour Zoom information meeting ( available twice a week throughout the year), call Annie C. at 475-235-2184 or visit AnnieC.org.
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