Rotary Helps Area Agencies

Karen Messina, director of the Shelter of the Cross in Danbury, and Terry Blackmer, director of the Family Counseling Center of Newtown, Inc., came to a Newtown Rotary meeting recently to thank the Rotary for its assistance to both organizations.

Newtown Rotary held a very successful golf tournament at Heritage Village Golf Course last year and was able to make a substantial contribution to both agencies. Ninety-eight golfers participated; it is expected that the number of golfers participating in this year’s Golf Tournament 2000 will be well over the 100 mark.

Shelter of the Cross gives shelter and rehabilitation to homeless men and women in the Danbury area. The shelter has been open only two years and has served 15 clients. Seven of these clients already have been relocated to private housing.

Ms Messina said that one client, a man in his 60s, had been homeless for 18 years. Shelter of the Cross was able to offer him a home and rehabilitation counseling. He now has a job and recently was married for the first time. He and his wife have their own apartment and he is starting a new, productive life. This is the kind of success story that inspires many people involved in the program.

Director Messina said the shelter is frustrated because the nonprofit organization cannot handle all of the people who need help. The shelter can accommodate only seven people at a time. The program is based on the premise that a client will become rehabilitated enough to be on their own within two years. While the shelter has been able to help 15 people in the past two years, there are 55 other people who are on the waiting list.

The shelter is looking for funding to expand its program.

Terry Blackmer has been the director of the Family Counseling Center for four months. Last month the FCC provided mental health services for 600 people. The organization recently received national accreditation. 

Nancy Haas, FCC board chairman, presented an overview of the FCC programs at the Rotary meeting.

Newtown Rotary has begun a program to inform the public about the Rotary and what it does to improve the health of welfare of those who need assistance in the community, the state, and the world. The local Rotary club meets every Monday for a dinner meeting at 6:15 pm at the Fireside Inn. Anyone who wants more information or who would like to help the Rotary improve community and world conditions, may attend a Rotary meeting or call Ed Osterman at 426-0530.