‘Gifts of Joy’ Asked for Children in Need

Local organizations and a business are working together to ask for donations for children at the Friendship Center and OIC.

Donations of items are being asked for the Friendship Service Center’s “Adopt-A-Child” program and the Opportunities Industrialization Center of New Britain’s “Gift-A-Child” program.

Event organizers say that the “Gifts of Joy Community Drive” is sponsored by McDonalds at NewBrite Plaza, where donations are being accepted. Organizers also say that donations may also be made at the Friendship Center at 85 Arch Street and at the downtown Visitor Center/Gallery 66 at 66 West Main Street.

The Community Drive is planned for today, December 19, 2019, from 5:00pm to 6:00pm.

The Friendship Service Center of New Britain says that,

We provide a continuum of services for men, women and children who are poor and homeless in Central Connecticut. These services range from basic outreach to those still living on the streets, to emergency shelter for families and individuals, and transitional living and permanent supportive housing options for those who are homeless.

We offer meals for the community each day in the Tomasso Family Community Dining Room and work to prevent homelessness through the Emergency Needs Program.

The Opportunities Industrialization Center of New Britain (OIC) says that it,

is one of the city’s oldest providers of job training and career development services, offering career competencies are the soft skills needed for the world of work to ensure successful employees.

The organization says that it,

is founded on a belief in the potential of every human being.  We believe that through encouragement, inspiration and training our participants will be inspired to become self-supporting and contributing members of the economy and society.

OIC is located at 114 North Street.