See How One Family Helps to ‘Share the Love’ this Holiday Season

Keith McGilvery from Fox 61 helped to “Share the Love” about an amazing act of kindness from a family in Portland, CT giving back to people in need during the holidays.

Lou and Wendy Vinci from Portland, CT are making “skid trees” this year out of salvaged wooden pallets in the shape of Christmas Trees that are being sold for only $5 each, and all of the proceeds are going to benefit the local food pantry in their community. Lou’s family has benefited from CRT’s Meals on Wheels program in the past and they wanted to find a way to help others this year. The handmade trees are being sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, email to: [email protected]

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Quick Thinking and Decisive Action by CRT Staff Save Man Having an Overdose in Hartford

Last week a 56-year old man arrived at CRT offices on Market Street in Hartford for a scheduled appointment – he got inside just in time! He was having a drug overdose, but thanks to the quick thinking and decisive action of CRT’s Behavioral Health Services team, he received NARCAN and was resuscitated. He is starting CRT’s Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program to help with addiction recovery.

CRT’s Medical Director, Dr. Sharon Hasbani, spoke exclusively with Margaux Farrell from Fox 61 about the quick thinking and decisive action of CRT’s Behavioral Health Services team to save a man from a drug overdose.

More information is available on the Fox 61 website.

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CRT Celebrates the Graduating Class of 10th Annual Financial Literacy Institute

On December 8, 2020, CRT hosted the graduation for the students who successfully completed the 10th annual Financial Literacy Institute. Complete with caps and gowns, all of the students were celebrated for their hard work during the 14-week, 50-hour course. In a first this year, the entire course was conducted online to ensure social-distancing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this included the graduation ceremony.

The keynote address was given by Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, who told the graduates last night:

“[You] have turned financial literacy from being an obstacle into an opportunity.
An opportunity to invest in yourself.
An opportunity to invest in your education or business.
An opportunity to invest in your loved ones.
And an opportunity to invest in your future.
Knowledge is power and one of the best investments you can make is in yourself.”

Mike Hydeck from NBC Connecticut shared the good news with their viewers.

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Do All You Can to Help Someone in Need on ‘Giving Tuesday’

Today marks “Giving Tuesday” and CRT invites donors to do all they can to help one person in need to stay healthy and safe this holiday season. Thanks to an anonymous donor, each donation this month will be matched dollar for dollar!

Jenn Bernstein from Fox 61 News shared the story with their viewers.

You can also see details on the Fox 61 website.

You can make a secure donation to CRT now.

 

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Just in Time for Thanksgiving: A New Tradition Begins at CRT Generations

This year, one of our neighbors at CRT Generations, Mr. Kerry Foster Sr. of Clark Street, and his family have decided to bless Generations residents with Thanksgiving essentials. Mr. Foster, a retired Hartford firefighter, alongside his family have been giving back to their community for several years. After losing their son, Kerry Foster Jr., some years ago, Mr. Foster and his family strive to keep their son’s spirit alive through their community work. During the holidays, the Foster’s typically give back in a major way by serving meals to local shelters & soup kitchens and providing clothes to the homeless and those in need.

However, due to COVID-19, their Thanksgiving tradition must be altered a bit this year! So, they decided to donate to the seniors closest to them at the CRT Generations campus. Mr. Foster and his family provided all our residents (seniors included) free turkeys and food baskets this week, just in time for the holiday!

The Hartford Courant was there to record the moment. (Shown above – photo by Brad Horrigan.)

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Local Businesses and Volunteers Making Thanksgiving Special for Families and Their Pets in Hartford

As the holidays approach, there are a lot of families struggling to put food on the table this year during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Mike Massaro from NBC Connecticut shares details about the work of some local businesses (including Hartford-based Gold Bond Mattress) and volunteers from Dog Star Rescue who provided Thanksgiving meals this past weekend to 24 families helped by CRT, along with special food and treats for their pets, too.

The story was also shared by Jim Altman on Fox 61.

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Sweet as Pie! BouNom Bakery Donating 100 Pumpkin Pies to CRT Shelter Residents on Thanksgiving

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CRT is so grateful for the generosity of the owners at BouNom Bakery in Avon, Conn., who are donating 100 hand-made pumpkin pies on #Thanksgiving Day to homeless residents livings at CRT’s shelters in Hartford and East Hartford (including the East Hartford Family Shelter and Veterans Crossing).

All of the personal-sized pies will be baked and delivered on Thanksgiving Day. Watch this report by Leslie Mayes on NBC Connecticut to learn more about this wonderful act of kindness that is truly “Sweet as Pie!”

More details in this full report from NBC Connecticut.

Note: During the Coronavirus pandemic, CRT’s McKinney Shelter for Men in Hartford is officially closed, and the residents have been safely relocated to an area hotel.

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Help Seniors Living at The Retreat Celebrate a “Festival of Wreaths” this Holiday Season

CRT is collecting 100 holiday wreaths – one for EVERY senior living at CRT’s The Retreat assisted-living facility in Hartford – to help bring a little more joy to all of the residents during the holidays.

Keisha Grant and Mike Hydeck from NBC Connecticut share the story and explain how YOU can help create a true “Festival of Wreaths” this year! Check it out!

#festivalofwreaths #seasonofgiving #spreadjoy

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CRT Working with Access Health CT to Help You Sign Up for Health Insurance

CRT is proud to partner with Access Health CT to help people with open enrollment for health insurance coverage in Connecticut. People can sign up now through December 15 and coverage begins January 1, 2021. CRT can help you sign up today!

Find out more in this report on Fox 61 News.

Now is the time for you and your family to enroll (or renew) in a Qualified Health Plan!

If you need help, contact CRT and our Access Health Navigator or call Access Health CT at 855-805-4325.

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CRT Helps Those Struggling with Addiction During Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

Hartford resident Pedro Robles shares his life-long struggle with drug addiction, and how it has become even harder for him during the Coronavirus pandemic. He has received intensive outpatient therapy with the Community Renewal Team (CRT), but every day brings new challenges. As Margaux Farrell from Fox 61 notes: “Addiction is a health crisis on top of the pandemic, but hope is the key.”

Watch this exclusive report to learn more about how CRT is helping people with programs like Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) to move toward a life of recovery.

You can get more details in this story from Fox 61 News.

#RecoveryisPossible

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