Winsted Food Pantry Needs Donations

The Open Door Soup Kitchen, located at 160 Main St., St. James Place, Winsted, CT, has joined the United Way of Northwest CT Food For Your Neighbors program for the first time. They can use everything. Donations should be delivered to the kitchen's entrance at the rear of the building. They're open 5 days a week and the second and third Saturday. Hours are 9 am to 1 pm.  Last year they served 11,000 meals that helped 12,000 people.

Connecticut Vaccine Program

Connecticut Vaccine Program (CVP)

The Connecticut Vaccine Program is Connecticut’s childhood vaccination program. It ensures all children in the state get the vaccinations they need, when they need them, to stay healthy.

Finding a Connecticut Vaccine Program (CVP) Provider

There are hundreds of health care providers enrolled in the Connecticut Vaccine Program (CVP) throughout the state. Contact your health care provider to see if they're enrolled or call (860) 509-7929 to find a CVP provider near you.
How the Program Works

The state buys vaccine at the lowest possible price through a government contract, and gives the vaccines at no cost to clinics, private doctors, and other health care providers. These providers then vaccinate children without charging patients for the cost of the vaccine (health care providers may still charge an administration fee). Without this program, some insurance companies may not cover the full cost of vaccine, making it too expensive for some families.

• Vaccines covered by the CVP

Expanding Access to Vaccines
A new law (Public Act 12 – 1) created the Connecticut Vaccine Program (CVP). It requires health care providers who give pediatric vaccines to get the vaccines through the state in most cases. By buying more vaccines from the federal contract, we can get more vaccine to Connecticut children at a lower cost. Through the CVP, children in Connecticut can now get three new vaccines:
1. pneumococcal conjugate
2. influenza (flu)
3. hepatitis A.
These three vaccines are needed for children to be enrolled in day care, and vaccination for both hepatitis A and influenza are needed for pre-kindergarten enrollment.

Why vaccines are important to you and your family

Immunizations have had a big impact on making children in the United States healthier. Most parents today have never seen first-hand the effects that vaccine-preventable diseases can have on a family or community. While these diseases are not common in the U.S., they are still common in parts of the world. It is important that we continue to protect our children with vaccines because outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases can, and sometimes do, happen in this country.

Good For Your Children — Good for Connecticut

The CVP helps make sure that all Connecticut children get the immunizations they need by the age of 2 years old. This is important because serious illness is most likely to happen in the first two years of a child’s life. By getting more children vaccinated against vaccine-preventable diseases, all of which can be serious, we help to improve the health of everyone in Connecticut.
Information for Parents The CVP Parent Page provides information just for parents which includes how vaccines work, where to get your child vaccinated, and when you should get your child vaccinated.
Information for Providers Information for providers including enrollment forms, patient eligibility criteria and communication memos can be found on the CVP Provider Page.
Questions or feedback? We want to know! If you have questions or feedback regarding vaccinating your child or about the CVP, contact the Connecticut Immunization Program at (860) 509-7929 or via email at dph.immunizations@ct.gov.

Wine Tasting to Benefit LARC

A wine tasting will be held on Friday, March 8 to benefit LARC in Torrington.  The event will be held at the Torrington Lodge of Elks, 70 Litchfield St., from 6 - 9 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the locations listed below and are $25 in advance or $30 at the door.

• LARC, 314 Main Street, Torrington
• Tony's Drive-in Package Store, Route 4, Harwinton
• Chamber of Commerce, 333 Kennedy Drive, Torrington
• Bowen Agency, 26 Center St., Winsted

Food Drive Underway!

The United Way of Northwest Connecticut Food For Your Neighbors program is now underway!
Collections will be accepted through Thursday, March 14.

The following businesses have offered to serve as drop off points for the community: Bantam Market, Chamber of Commerce of NWCT, Community Mental Health Affiliates' offices in Torrington and Lakeville, Litchfield Bancorp, National Iron Bank in Cornwall and Norfolk, Northwest Community Bank, Northwest Hills Credit Union, YMCA branches in Torrington, Winsted, and Canaan, Petrovits Patrick Smith and Co, Rainbow Press, The Register Citizen, Torrington Area Health District, Torrington Municipal and Teachers Federal Credit Union, Torrington Savings Bank, Union Savings Bank, and WZBG.

Participating food banks in Torrington include FISH, Friendly Hands and Salvation Army; the Winsted Salvation Army, and Hands of Grace in New Hartford.

Requested items include pasta and sauce, peanut butter and jelly, canned meats, vegetables and fruits, tuna, chili, stews, or any canned and dry goods. Small toiletries are also accepted.

Volunteers are needed for the final day of the drive on Thursday, March 14, from any hours between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The United Way asks that Torrington area food collections be delivered that day to the depot, which will be located at 59 Field Street, Torrington, to the rear of the Register Citizen building. Volunteer duties will include counting and sorting items. To volunteer, call the United Way at (860) 489-4131 or email cheryl@northwestunitedway.org