OPERATION GRATITUDE

The Wallingford Fund and the Wallingford Elks Lodge 1365 are sponsoring 

OPERATION GRATITUDE

for members of the military services from Wallingford.

There will be a collection on Saturday December 17th 2016 from 10:30AM to 2:30PM at the Wallingford Elks Lodge 1365, 148 South Main Street, Wallingford. 

What we're doing: 

We are looking for friends and family of active military members that could use a "thank you" - so if you know of someone that meets these eligibility requirements, please contact Jason@Zandri.net so they can be added to the care list. 

Beyond looking for eligible candidates to send packages to, we need the items to fill them and monetary donations to offset the cost of the shipping. If you want to help out, stop by the Wallingford Elks Lodge 1365, 148 South Main Street with your items (or some cash) on Saturday December 17th 2016 from 10:30AM to 2:30PM.

You can also support us by making a donation online:

Please see the full details below and consider helping out.

Those that serve the country give up so much, risk so much; this time of year, especially, is when we should show our appreciation and gratitude.

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What the Troops Ask For – (updated 11-19-2016)

• $25 / $50 VISA and MC gift cards (gives them maximum flexibility, for WIFI, etc. Any amount is fine – these amounts are the suggestions) 
• Phone cards (major brands - international
• Personal hygiene items (unscented whenever possible)  
• wet wipes, individually wrapped 
• disposable razors (men's and women's) 
• chap sticks / lip balm  
• body wash, lotion, face wash, mouth wash, deodorant, q-tips, shampoo, conditioner, foot powder 

• Feminine products (unscented whenever possible)  
• Small packs of napkins and tampons 
• Female version of body wash, lotion, razors, face wash, mouth wash, deodorant, q-tips, hair detangler, face moisturizer, shampoo, conditioner 
• Small grooming kits 
• Sunscreen 
• Magazines (clean content – for reading) / Fun posters and calendars for dressing the place up 
• AA batteries / AAA batteries 
• Movies / music on thumb drives only (“USB devices are cool to send movies, TV shows, music; scan for viruses free.” 
• 1 GB+ USB memory sticks (thumb drives) (blank) 
• Cards, letters, group photos (we want them to know real people did this for them) 
• Laundry PODS packed in a sturdy plastic or metal container. 
• Tobacco (“yes a lot of us smoke, dip, chew, and vape”) 
• Books (Popular series and authors are best, romance novels are not that great unless someone asks for them).
  

Food Stuffs

• Hard candy (Please do not send troops a lot of melty things like chocolate - Chocolate Bunnies and Peeps “die” in the mail in alarming numbers)
• Cookies / crackers 
• Corn nuts 
• Protein bars/powder, Granola and other snack bars 
• Rice Krispy Treats 
• Slim Jims / Beef jerky 
• Nuts other than peanuts in re-sealable containers (re-sealable pouches) 
• Dried fruits in re-sealable containers (re-sealable pouches) 
• Dried fruits, tree nuts, almonds, cashews, cranberries, cherries, and blueberries. 
• Tins and packets of flavored coffee and cappuccino 
• Breath mints / gum

  

Wallingford Fireworks Fund is now The Wallingford Fund

From the desire of her citizens to save the 2010 fireworks celebration in Wallingford Connecticut, the Wallingford Fireworks Fund was formed.

Since then, and over six years of successful fundraising campaigns, The Fund is no longer singularly focused, as the need to fundraise for the fireworks has dissipated.

But our work is still needed.

Presently we are a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization (tax id# is 27-2576599)

The efforts of this group will be to find needs of the Town of Wallingford that are going overlooked, unfunded, or otherwise neglected, and try to find ways to change that.

Join us. Pay it forward in the best of possible ways - surrounded by friends.

No fundraising collection efforts for the 2016 Independence Day celebration planned.

Hi folks.

The officers and the volunteers (all seven of us in total) of the Wallingford Fireworks Fund have decided to not engage in any collections this year.
 

The town of Wallingford has been able to raise the general fund balance (savings account) from $20 million dollars to $27.5 million since 2011, all the while, paying down $50 million in debt down to $33 million.
 

These are both very positive things.
 

With these facts, it is very clear that the town can well afford to spend the $35,000 for the event.
 

There is a plan to make a request of the Wallingford Town Council to restore the funds for the event, as the administrative budget, (the Mayor's), once again does not include them. 
 

Make sure you attend that meeting to show your support.
 

Thank you for all the support since 2010 in keeping the celebration of the birth of our nation alive and well in Wallingford.
 

We could not have done it without you.