By Shannon Hicks

It may have been rainy, dark, cold and wet outside, but inside the banquet hall of Roberto’s Restaurant in Monroe last Saturday morning, spirits were soaring. More than 225 people participated in a breakfast fundraising event on March 8 that will help this year’s ecumenical group of young adults and chaperones who are preparing for their 14th year of workcamp.

Thirty-nine young adult members of Newtown Congregational Church, Newtown United Methodist Church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, St Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, and even one young adult who is not affiliated with a church but wants to join her friends in the workcamping experience, have signed on for a week of work in Wilmington, N.C., in August. This year’s trip represents the furthest distance the workcampers will travel to date. Seven adults have already signed on to be chaperones.

The teens have been holding various fundraising events recently, but the largest each year is a breakfast event. This year the breakfast moved to Roberto’s Restaurant in Monroe, and the event was certainly a success.

The breakfast had been coordinated by Graceann Hanulik, and organized by Terry Ferris and Sue Mouchantat, all of whom worked closely with the workcampers to pull the event together.

Workcampers invite close friends and family to share in a delicious breakfast coupled with entertainment. The guests are then waited on by their host workcamper. The cost of each meal is paid for in advance by table sponsors, so the workcampers/wait staff count on their guests to tip generously for their breakfast. These tips are pooled at the end of the breakfast to help cover the cost of transportation, housing, food, and other costs the campers will need to cover before and during their trip.

Table sponsors were Airtech of Stamford, Curtis Beck, DMD, the medical practice of Drs Peter and Susan Licht and Dr Jennifer Holloway, Excel Tutoring, Ferris Acres Creamery, Honan Funeral Home, Howard Dennis, Lathrop School of Dance, Lions Club of Newtown, the Morlath family, Newtown Congregational Church Continuing Education, the Reverend Robert Weiss, Urology Associates of Danbury, and Valley View Landscaping.

Sales of raffle tickets during the breakfast also raise funds for the workcampers’ fund.

Contributors of raffle prizes were: Ace Hardware, Bagel Delight, Big Y World Class Market, Black Swan, Bridgeport Bluefish, Carminuccio’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Edmond Town Hall movies, Ferris Acres Creamery, Five Guys Burgers & Fries, the Hanulik family, Katherine’s Kitchen, the Keating family, the Mangiafico family, Mexicali Rose, Mobil Newtown, Mona Lisa Restaurant, our green house, Panera Bread, Pepperidge Farm, Planet Beach, Radio Shack, Robert Anthony Hair Salon, Roberto’s Restaurant, Sal e Pepe Restaurant, Salon Michele, Sandy Hook Diner, Thomas E. Salon, and Villarina’s Pasta Shop.

The Reverend Matthew Crebbin, senior pastor of Newtown Congregational Church, offered the welcoming remarks on Saturday, followed by an opening prayer from Redd Blessey of St Rose Church.

Breakfast was then served, followed by testimonials by three young adults who have attended workcamp. Jenn Callery, Sarah Ferris, and Matt Cole each spoke about their workcamp experiences. This portion of the breakfast event has always been a highpoint, as speakers share personal moments and reflections.

The workcampers then offered the morning’s entertainment, led by Carl Lindquist of Newtown Congregational Church. Next was the raffle drawings and workcamper introductions.

Reverend Dick Yerrington, the associate pastor of Newtown United Methodist Church, then offered the closing prayer.

Openings remain for adult chaperones. For information about becoming a workcamp chaperone contact Newtown Congregational Church at 426-9024.