TGIF (Turn Grease Into Fuel) is a middle school project started by the Junior WIN Team in Westerly, RI. The kids developed a plan to collect restaurant grease and household cooking oil waste, then sell it to be made into biodiesel, a clean-burning substitute for diesel fuel. The biodiesel is blended into heating oil, called BIOHEAT. The TGIF team then uses the money they've earned to give BIOHEAT to local families in need. Families are identified through MASH in Mystic, the WARM Shelter in Westerly, and the Bradford Jonnycake Center. Guardian Fuel has delivered about 6,000 gallons of BIOHEAT for TGIF through this program to date! It's extremely satisfying for us to bring BIOHEAT to families on behalf of TGIF.

TGIF is mentored by Jason Lin. jason@w-i-n.ws

Big Night Entertainment Group, the company responsible for Shrine at MGM Grand, Scorpion Bar at Foxwoods, High Rollers Luxury Lanes and Lounge at Foxwoods and The Estate in Boston, is participating in the Salvation Army's "Adopt-a-Family" program. Each one of Big Night's venues has adopted one family, allowing the company to assist four families in need by providing them with gifts for their children. Staff at all four venues are contributing to the cause and gifts will be hand delivered to families in Norwich, New London and Boston the third week in December. For more information about Big Night Entertainment, visit www.bneg.com.

The 150 agents at Randall Realtors are supporting our charities thru Randall Realtors Helping Hands. Our charities are Waterford Country School, Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center and SORICO of Rhode Island. The agents from Connecticut and Rhode Island are collecting Teen Games, Adult and Teen Toiletries, Household products, Baby needs and new blankets and pillows in each office for distribution to these institutions for Christmas. Our intent is to help the communities we live in.

I will be hosting a Holiday Toy Drive during a special Holiday Zumba Festivas class on Tuesday, December 7th from 6pm - 7pm at the Taftville Knights of Columbus Hall. All are welcome to participate.. class admission fee is an unwrapped toy. All toys collected will be donated to Sacred Heart Church in Taftville for them to distribute to local families in need this holiday season. Come Zumba for a great cause... hope you see many faces Tuesday night. For more information about this special Zumba class contact Sharon Brouillard at getzumbafit.com

During this holiday season TVCCA has received several donations and gifts from the community. The gifts come in all forms cash donations, gift cards, adopting families, and including sponsoring a Holiday Celebration for the TVCCA Family Shelter. TVCCA has also been fortunate for the opportunity to refer families to some of the community events taking place during this holiday season.

Listed below are a few of the acts of kindness TVCCA has received from the community.

The holiday season starts with the Thanksgiving Food Drive sponsored by WCTY hosted by Jimmy Lane that is held at BIG Y in Norwich. This year the New London County community answered the calls made by Jimmy to fill the truck. The total food collected 24,110 pounds. A large donation came in from US Food Service, a Norwich based business who donated 10,000 pounds of food. During the drive $3260.00 was received for food gift cards.

TVCCA’S RSVP program each year sponsors the Santa Anonymous Boot Project. This year through the generosity of business and private donors 729 children on the shoreline will have winter boots. This year 110 participated in the project the breakdown was 32 businesses and 78 personal donors. 30 pair purchased by TVCCA staff.

St Patrick’s Cathedral/Parishioners in Norwich will be sponsoring the Holiday Party for the TVCCA Family Shelter with Matthews Catering doing a holiday meal. On average in the shelter during the holiday will be 25 children and 15 adults.

Donations for the TVCCA Family Shelter have also come from The New London County Retired Teachers Association, Electric Boat Management Association and Norwich Rotary

Many of the families who come to TVCCA benefit from two large events that happen because of Business support and Community involvement. They are the Tommy Toy Fund and the Mashantucket Tribal Council who sponsors a children party every year. TVCCA has referred over 400 to Tommy Toy this year with 163 children attending the Mashantucket Christmas party.

Three local community businesses have adopted families for the holidays: Balance Hair Studio, The Sprague Community Center and KLM Motor Sports.

Thank you to Olive Garden restaurant who delivered lunch to the TVCCA staff, at the Huntington Street office in appreciation for the job they do each and every day.

Throughout the year many families face tough situations during the holiday season their situation becomes heightened with the additional stresses. Many of the non-profit organizations work together pooling available resources to help stabilize the individual and or family who come to our doors. At times the situations faced by the clients are taunting even for the average citizen.

TVCCA would like to thank the New London County Businesses and individuals who work with TVCCA to make life better for the residents of New London County.