Child & Family Annual Sale Intake Day

If spring is here can "Intake Day" be far behind?
For New London, it's a spring ritual of its own, when the community will carry out a 59-year tradition of collecting tag sale donations to benefit the work of Child & Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut. This year the day will
be Saturday, April 13th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Saint Joseph’s School.

Members of the agency's New London auxiliary and a legion of volunteers will be receiving, sorting, packing, and shipping donations to Groton. There they will be joined by contributions from surrounding communities and be artfully displayed to fill a 13,000-square-foot gymnasium at the Grasso Tech High School, located at 189 Fort Hill Road in Groton. The three-day event, billed as the "Largest Tag Sale in New England," will be held April 18, 19 and 20, Thursday through Saturday.

Members of the New London auxiliary believe this sale is the perfect reason to clean house and bring the best to Intake Day as the auxiliary works to polish its reputation for providing the highest quality donations. That high standard is instrumental in drawing increasingly large and diverse crowds, from bargain-hunting shoppers to collectors and dealers. Organizers invite donors to bring a treasure or a trove on April 13th, then find another at the sale on April 18th through April 20th.

Items especially desired include furniture, household and
decorative items, sporting goods, linens, antiques, furniture, collectibles, books and CDs, artwork, linens, jewelry, tools and garden equipment, toys, clothing, vintage wear, and small appliances. Organizers cannot take car seats, computers, heavy exercise equipment, large appliances, mattresses, men's dress shirts, women's lingerie, or bathing suits. For assistance with unusual or large items, contact Carol at (860) 442-4148 or carol-guy@sbcglobal.net. Tax letters for donations will be available at Saint Joseph’s School on Intake Day.

This annual fund raising effort will help to finance a 204-year-old tradition of providing critical services for children and families in crisis. This legacy began in 1809 when a group of Hartford women formed the Female Benevolent Society to provide for the needs of an increasing population of neglected and orphaned children. Renamed the Children's Aid Society, it began a collaborative effort with The Mission in New London, where the need seemed most
pressing. Over its long service history, the organization has earned the support and respect of philanthropists and civic-minded individuals as it has revolved into the largest, private, non-profit children's service provider in southeastern Connecticut. In 2011, covering 79 towns in its service area of New Haven, Middlesex, and New London counties, it assisted 17,000 children and their families.

A staff of more than 170 professionals includes social
workers, physicians, psychologists, teacher's aides, and nurse practitioners. The agency provides child and family guidance for the prevention of child abuse and the treatment of family violence; child development services for the day-care of infants and toddlers, and a safe haven of after-school programs for older children, nurturing personal development with the aid of such programs as one-on-one volunteer readers and seasonal theatrical performances; health and social services through school-based and school-linked health centers; support for adolescent women and their infants, through the Young Parents program; and
prevention and education services, providing workshops and publications to local professionals and an international Internet audience.

To become a member, a volunteer, or a donor or to learn more about the work of the agency, visit www.childandfamilyagency.org , or call 860-443-2896, ext. 1403.