Local Networking Group Holds Christmas Charity Event For Children

Network For Free hosted its first annual Toys For Kids event on November 11 at Fortunato’s Villa Pasta in New Fairfield. Members were asked to bring one or more gifts for underprivileged children in the Danbury and Newtown communities, and the collection was “a huge success,” said Network For Free Founder Scott Blanchard.

The collection will continue until December 11 to allow all who could not attend this event to donate toys for children. Several drop-off locations in the area have been set up.

In Newtown, toys can be dropped of at Bentley Cleaners, Mortgage Force, Down on Main Street, Nina Nail Spa, Shaolin Studios, Webster Bank, and William Raveis Real Estate, all located at 14 Church Hill Road.

Also in Newtown, Newtown Youth Academy, at 4 Primrose Street, is also a drop-off point.

Additional drop-off locations have been set up at Villa Pasta Restaurant, 249 Route 39 in New Fairfield; Danbury Youth Services, 91 West Street in Danbury; or CACD, at 88 North Street in Danbury.

Gifts can be dropped off at any of the above locations until December 12.

A member of New Fairfield’s Knights of Columbus, Mr Blanchard started Network For Free four months ago after attending several fee-based networking events, and finding them to be less than what they had promised. The group already has more than 400 members. Mr Blanchard says in these economic times, people do not have the money to join some networking groups, so he created Network For Free so all who are serious about helping themselves and others succeed can join. Network For Free meets on Mondays or Wednesdays for lunch or after hour events, semimonthly.

In addition to no membership fees, members are not required to attend all meeting, and fundraisers for various charitable organizations are part of the group’s objectives. The only cost to the member is for the food served, which usually ranges from $20 and up per event.

For details on Toys For Kids or Network For Free, Mr Blanchard can be reached at Scott@MortgageForce.com or 203-312-6910.