Help New Haven families celebrate Thanksgiving

BlumShapiro, an accounting, tax and business consulting firm based in New England, will partner with Christian Community Action to provide Thanksgiving Day meals to more than 1,700 families and seniors in New Haven, according to a statement.
“The BlumShapiro Thanksgiving Food Basket Campaign for Christian Community Action is a community wide, hands-on program that will collect non-perishable food items and financial contributions, as well as provide volunteers to help bag all donated items for distribution to families and seniors right before Thanksgiving Day,” the statement said.
“We are very proud to partner with Christian Community Action to help bring a full traditional dinner to the Thanksgiving Day tables of more than 1,700 families and seniors in New Haven,” Tom DeVitto, Chief Marketing Officer at BlumShapiro, said in the statement. “We invite businesses, individuals, schools, church and civic groups and others to join BlumShapiro employees and our families in this community wide effort to help other families have a festive and fulfilling Thanksgiving Day.”
The Rev. Bonita Grubbs, Christian Community Action executive director, said, also in the statement, “We are excited to have a company as prestigious as BlumShapiro join us in supporting our Thanksgiving Food Basket initiative.”
“Such display of community spirit and commitment is impressive, and we hope it will inspire others who may not have been aware of this effort to pitch in with food drives, donations and volunteers,” she said.
The BlumShapiro Thanksgiving Food Basket Campaign for CCA will collect non-perishable food items and monetary contributions from through Nov. 12.
To help companies in collection efforts, BlumShapiro will provide collection boxes for donated non-perishable food items, the statement said. Financial contributions to CCA will go towards the purchase of turkeys, additional non-perishable food items and other necessities for a healthy and happy Thanksgiving Day meal. Any amount is appreciated. To donate online, visit www.ccahelping.org.
Volunteers also are needed for a “bagging weekend” on Nov. 17-18 to sort and bag all donated food, along with turkeys, in preparation for distribution to families and seniors on the next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving, the statement said. Both bagging days take place at Casa Community Center, 148 Sylvan Ave., New Haven, beginning at 10 a.m.
Joining BlumShapiro and CCA in their Thanksgiving food initiative is News 8 WTNH.
For more information about the BlumShapiro Thanksgiving Food Basket Campaign for CCA, call Al May at CCA at 203-777-7848, extension 19, or visit www.ccahelping.org.

Editor's note: All information in this post was contributed.

Donation helps the homeless in Greater New Haven

NEW HAVEN - Employees of BlumShapiro recently donated $2,500 to Columbus House, which provides service and shelter for homeless people.

“We value our relationship with BlumShapiro and their employees and are very grateful for the contribution. Their continued support of Columbus House’s work is crucial as we provide hope to so many in our community,” Columbus House Development Director John Brooks said, in a statement.

The BlumShapiro employees decided to forgo their annual company celebration for the third year and instead donate funds to non-profit organizations throughout Connecticut, according to a statement.

“For nearly 30 years, Columbus House has been home to many who have experienced homelessness from throughout the region, providing shelter, support services and housing. We, like the thousands they serve every year, are extremely grateful for their invaluable services,” BlumShapiro principal Mike Hanlon said in the statement.

In the photo: receiving BlumShapiro’s check is, at center, John Brooks, development director, Columbus House, at right, Mike Hanlon, principal, BlumShapiro; and at left, Thomas DeVitto, chief marketing officer, BlumShapiro.

Homeless helped by 5K run

Columbus House is one of the winnners in the second annual BlumShapiro 5K for Charity at the Travelers Championship.
More than 500 people, including runners, walkers and children, participated in the recent event in Cromwell, which raised $10,000 in donations and nearly $8,000 in food donations for five agnencies.
In addition to Columbus House, proceeds and food donations from the BlumShapiro 5K for Charity help provide meals, shelter and other services to those in need at East Hartford Homeless Shelter, Manchester Area Conferences of Churches, Thomas Merton House in Bridgeport and St. Vincent de Paul Society of Waterbury, BlumShapiro said in a statement.
“These five non-profit organizations make our state a better place to live – and your participation today – whether as a runner, walker, volunteer, supporter or sponsor – makes the BlumShapiro 5K for Charity at the Travelers Championship a resounding success," Tom DeVitto, BlumShapiro Chief Marketing Officer said at the event, according to the statement.
David McKay of Rocky Hill was the overall winner of the 5K, and set a new course record with a time of 16:06, the statement said.
Kaelin Baker, 13, of Farmington won the female division with a time of 20:28, the statement said.
A Kids Fun Run also was held for the first time at the annual event.

BlumShapiro is based in Connecticut with offices in West Hartford, Shelton, Westport and Waterbury.


In the photo, from left, Tom DeVitto, chief marketing officer of BlumShapiro; David McKay of Rocky Hill, overall winner of the BlumShapiro 5K for Charity, and Carl Johnson, managing partner of BlumShapiro.

Editor's note: Information and photo provided by BlumShapiro