Newtown High School student Connor Kwarcinski has come up with another way to financially support veterans.

Connor is no stranger to veteran awareness. He has previously been involved in Home Front Hugs, Operation Support Our Military, and a holiday collection drive for the West Haven Veteran Awareness Hospital.

As many can imagine, choosing veteran awareness for his capstone project was a no-brainer. After choosing to do a veteran calendar he was met with immediate concern, however.

“There weren’t a lot of veterans that wanted to participate so I was getting a little worried in the beginning weeks and first month,” he said.

After initially posting his fliers for the calendar, he only heard back from six veterans and discovered that much of the information and photos they sent were either incomplete or blurry. Knowing that a six-month calendar was not an option he decided to enlist help from American Legion Post 202 Commander Donna Monteleone.

“She is actually a feature in this calendar, and she helped me get more veterans and she helped advertise this a little more,” he said.

Thanks to her help Connor got the idea to post his calendar to a few local Facebook pages.

With more veterans aware of the project, his six veterans increased to 18 allowing him to increase his calendar past a full calendar year. He also managed to fix the flier problem by switching to email so he could have easier communication and obtain clearer photos.

All the veterans involved in the calendar were offered a free copy; however, many of the veterans opted to pay $20 for the calendar when they heard where the profits would be heading.

“I’m going to donate a little of my earnings to American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars but I’m still deciding on two other local organizations in Connecticut,” he said.

Those who wish to help spread awareness for veterans can do so by buying the calendar with Venmo @Operation SOM, Apple Pay (203-595-1846) or by sending a check made out to Connor Kwarcinski, 162 Boggs Hill Road, Newtown CT 06470, with your name and address attached.

Though those who preordered will be receiving the calendars soon. Connor said the official release of the calendar should come this week and hopes a successful release could result in expanding the calendar to veterans past Newtown.

“I’m so excited,” he said.

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Intern Jack Kobrock may be contacted through editor@thebee.com.