For the 5th year, the Undies Project will hold its annual bra drive, called Mardi “Bra,” to coincide with Mardi Gras. — an announcement from the Undies Project
Project volunteers in the drive are collecting donations of new and gently used (clean) bras to donate to those less fortunate. The drive is being conducted in Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Stamford, Westport and, new this year, Wilton. In Darien, donations can be made Friday, Feb. 21 to Monday, March 9 at:
—Aux Délices, Goodwives Shopping Center, 25 Old Kings Hwy.
Darien Library presents the fifth annual Novel Tea fundraiser featuring Lara Prescott, bestselling author of “The Secrets We Kept” at a March 25 luncheon held at Wee Burn Country Club. — Darienite.com previously published articles about the upcoming visit by Lara Prescott. This announcement from Darien Library has more information about the Novel Tea fundraising luncheon. “We look forward to having Lara Prescott who is touring with her first novel, The Secrets We Kept,” said Alex Eising, development chair for the Board of Trustees. “This is a gripping novel inspired by the true story of spies, the Cold War and Doctor Zhivago.
Single tickets are now on sale for our 5th Annual Novel Tea! We are thrilled to welcome Lara Prescott as our featured author. — an announcement from Darien Library
She’s the New York Times bestselling author of The Secrets We Kept. Now is your chance to meet her in person and hear about her thrilling tale of spies in the Cold War. The Wall Street Journal says, “Prescott crafts a cloak-and-dagger story of passion, espionage, and propaganda.”
Single tickets are $150. BUY TICKETS ONLINE HERE. The Novel Tea will be at the Wee Burn Country Club of Darien on Wednesday, March 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Novel Tea is sponsored by the Wyper Family Author Fund, David Harvey Fine Jewelers, DR Bank, New Canaan/Darien Magazine, and Darien Library.
Looking for a fun activity to share with your children during the February school break? The Community Fund of Darien is partnering with Dance on the DL to host a dance party for parents and boys & girls ages 6 and over. No previous dance experience required. — an announcement from the Community Fund of Darien
Come to DL Studio at Goodwives Shopping Center on Feb. 20 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and dance away your winter blues for a great cause!
Celebrating its 30th year, the Depot Youth Center — the oldest teen center in the nation — will be kicking the year off from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Country Club of Darien with its “Blue Jeans and Blazers” fundraiser. — an announcement from the Depot Youth Center
The event will feature live music with Jump the Gunn, dancing and delicious eats. There will be a special tribute honoring Depot founders Edmund von Schmidt and Carol Bishko. Going forward, the inaugural “Founders Award” will be given each year to a person who best exemplifies and supports the original Depot mission.
Mitch Albom, the best-selling author of Tuesdays With Morrie will talk about the subject of his book “Finding Chika: A Little Girl, an Earthquake and the Making of a Family” on Jan. 30. His appearance at Westport Country Playhouse on Thursday, Jan. 30 is to benefit Circle of Care, a Connecticut-based nonprofit supporting families of children with cancer. Albom has waived his speaking fee for the event, and all ticket purchases will serve as a donation to Circle of Care.
Americares is responding to the devastating 6.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Puerto Rico’s southwest coast on Tuesday, killing at least one person, toppling buildings and causing power outages across the island. — an announcement from Americares
Gov. Wanda Vázquez declared a state of emergency and activated Puerto Rico’s National Guard, cautioning residents to prepare for additional aftershocks. Tuesday’s earthquake follows the 5.8-magnitude quake that hit Puerto Rico early Monday, collapsing homes in Guánica and heavily damaging dozens of buildings. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, hundreds of small earthquakes have hit the island since Dec. 28, including at least 29 over magnitude 4.0.
You’re invited to shake off those winter blues, get into your favorite blue jeans and come to the Depot Youth Center’s annual winter fundraiser “Blue Jeans & Blazers” on Saturday, Feb. 8. — an announcement from the Depot Youth Center
Blue Jeans & Blazers takes place from 7 to 11 p.m. at Country Club of Darien. The fundraiser supports programming at the Depot. The fundraiser features music by Jump the Gunn, “signature” cocktails and, of course, eats.
Stamford EMS recently bought new clothing and toys to the Salvation Army’s Be An Angel Tree program and delivered them on Monday, Dec. 9. The donation will support 10 families in need. — an announcement from Stamford Emergency Medical Services
“We are happy to participate in this worthy holiday giving effort,” said Patricia Squires, chief and CEO of Stamford EMS. “As a nonprofit ourselves, it’s one way we can give back to the community that has supported us for over 25 years.”
Stamford EMS has paramedics based in Darien who go to the scenes of more serious medical emergencies, along with Darien EMS-Post 53 ambulances. Participation in the program eliminates the cost of these gifts that would normally be part of the Salvation Army’s holiday expenses.
The Salvation Army bell ringing season runs through Christmas Eve when the red kettles are packed away for the season. When you give at the red kettle outside of Palmer’s Market, 90% of the money dropped in the kettle goes right back to our community! — an announcement from Darien Department of Human Services
Did you know that the volunteers outside of Palmer’s Market collects on average about $500 in donations? The volunteers are your friends and neighbors. Groups such as the Boy Scouts, the Masons, Darien Men’s Group and others spend their weekends in December ringing the bells to benefit our community.
This year, Thanksgiving marked the date of not one, but two competitions between perennial rivals Darien and New Canaan — the hotly contested Turkey Bowl, and the final day of the third annual “Most Generous Town” fundraising competition between the Community Fund of Darien and the New Canaan Community Foundation. — an announcement from the Community Fund of Darien
Although New Canaan won the football competition, Darien is this year’s fundraising champion! Collectively, the two nonprofit organizations raised an impressive $300,280 — double last year’s amount — which is then allocated through grants to local charities. Last year, New Canaan won by a slim margin, with over $150,000 raised between both nonprofits — more than doubling the amount collected in the inaugural year. In another very close contest, Darien edged out the first victory in 2017. To commemorate the event, The Community Fund of Darien will proudly house a large “Turkey Trophy” at its office for the next year. What began as a fun way to encourage local donors to give to the two nonprofits on “Giving Tuesday” — a nationally-recognized day focused on charitable donations on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving — evolved into a full-fledged week of giving.
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, the Rowayton Community Center transforms into a stunning showcase of holiday decorations with the annual Rowayton Gardeners’ Annual Christmas Market. — an announcement from Rowayton Gardeners
The Market, which takes place at the Rowayton Community Center, 22 Highland Ave., features designer-quality wreaths and center pieces, one-of-a-kind gifts, boxwood trees and ornaments — all reasonably priced. A range of fabulous items are on offer at the silent auction, and Santa is also on hand to welcome children and grandchildren. Come support the Garden Club’s mission of spreading the word about conservation, maintaining most of our public spaces, introducing children to the joy of growing living things, and raising community awareness about the environment.
YWCA of Darien/Norwalk holds its annual “Dazzling Decadent December” shopping event supporting the YWCA’s Parent Awareness programs, with ticket proceeds and a percentage of all sales on the day, on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at Kirby & Company. — an announcement from YWCA Darien/Norwalk
It will be a fun, festive evening celebrating the upcoming holiday season and at both Kirby and Company, 1029 Post Road and Kirby Girl, 14 Brook St. Beverages and light hors d’oeuvres will be served. “Parent Awareness, which has been at the YWCA Darien/Norwalk for over 20 years now, is a series of programs to educate parents in the community about various topics,” said Judy Phillips, president & CEO of the YWCA Darien/Norwalk.
On behalf of the Darien Department of Human Services, I would like to thank you and your fellow Lions Club members for your generous support of our annual Holiday Gift Giving Program. The $1,000 in Shop Rite gift cards which you provided will help our families and seniors enjoy a nice holiday meal and will continue to benefit our clients during the year. Your ongoing support over the years means so much to our department. We rely on local organizations such as yours to help us provide our clients with the vital services they need. Thanks, again, for helping us help others.
The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County received a staggering donation yesterday… nearly one ton of turkeys plus additional dry goods were provided through a team contribution effort. Stamford EMS, Stop and Shop at Ridgeway Shopping Center and Our Lady of Grace Preschool & Kindergarten worked together to make the donation. — an announcement from Stamford EMS and Our Lady of Grace Preschool and Kindergarten
Stop and Shop, located in Ridgeway shopping center, generously provided the turkeys to community partner Stamford EMS to be delivered, by ambulance, to the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County. Our Lady of Grace School contributed cranberry sauce, green beans, mashed potatoes, stuffing and other canned and packaged side dishes that were collected by their school community. All turkeys and donations will be distributed to soup kitchens, emergency pantries and shelters across the region. “At this time of giving thanks, and in the spirit of community, we came together to help our neighbors in need,” said Patricia Squires, chief and CEO of Stamford EMS.
The donations from the families of Our Lady of Grace Preschool & Kindergarten in Glenbrook are a portion of the total provisions that the school community collected, which measured over one ton. A sizeable contribution of food was designated to help those in their school community in need.
