‘Simply Baby’ Gets Local Foundation Back On The Road

By Nancy K. Crevier

Make A Home Foundation founders Dan Telesco and Anita Pettengill are in the business of fulfilling others’ wishes, but on Tuesday, February 22, it was their turn to be on the receiving end of dreams come true.

Make A Home Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides free furniture, appliances, clothing, and other items to Connecticut veterans, families, and individuals who are homeless, either due to temporary circumstances or on-going problems. Avid tag salers, Ms Pettengill and Mr Telesco eagerly collect unwanted items in good condition that can be used to create a home setting for the less fortunate. Many of the items donated are stored in office space in Waterbury, in space donated to them by New Colony Diner in Monroe, or at their Church Hill Road home.

The foundation is affiliated with several agencies in the state, including United Way of Waterbury, CRT in Hartford, the Continuum of Care in Waterbury, the Department of Children and Families, Family and Children’s Aid in Danbury, Waterbury Health, the VNA, the West Haven Veterans Association, and the Veterans Association of Rocky Hill. With their assistance, the couple is able to determine where the items will go.

The response to a call for donations last fall has been hugely successful, said Mr Telesco. Unfortunately, Make A Home Foundation was lacking a truck large enough to deliver big furniture and appliances — until local business Simply Baby and Kids donated a van.

Make A Home volunteer Robin Buchanan had kept her eye on the snow-covered van parked behind the Simply Baby and Kids store for a number of weeks, as she went through the drive-through at nearby Newtown Savings Bank in Sand Hill Plaza. “I just decided one day to go ahead and ask about it. It didn’t seem to be going anywhere or in use,” said Ms Buchanan. “The manager said she would ask the owner, and I got a call back from her saying, ‘I’m going to make your day,’” Ms Buchanan recalled.

“Rich [Simply Baby co-owner] jumped to donate it when he heard about Make A Home,” said store manager Kara Telep. “It is a good van, and he and Carie [co-owner of Simply Baby] decided since this was a local foundation, it was a good opportunity to give when we can give. We think the foundation is great,” said Ms Telep.

With so much uncertainty in the lives of so many, providing Make A Home with the van seemed a simple way to help those in need, Ms Telep said. “We’re thankful to be doing well in our business here, but realize there are those in great need,” she added.

“I like that Make A Home is a Newtown-based foundation,” said owner Carie Turk. “Our business does try to give back to the community. We have donated to the food banks, and have had the Newtown Police Department show people the proper way to install the baby seats in cars, for instance. It was really nice to be able to recycle the van for a good cause,” said Ms Turk.

After months during which needy recipients had to make their own arrangements for much needed items, a hardship on top of hardships, Mr Telesco called the generous gift of the van from Simply Baby “an absolute blessing. It means that people who have desperately been waiting for us to deliver goods to them can get what they need.”

For information about Make A Home Foundation, visit makeahomefoundation.org, or contact apetten999.com. Pick up of furniture and appliances  — with the new van — can be arranged, as can a time for dropping off smaller items, by calling 203-270-5501.