Thursday, May 28, 2020
www.plainvillecitizen.com
Volume 19, Number 16
Camps will open Local parishoners continue tending to neighbors in need with new guidelines By Jessica Simms Special to the Record-Journal
God’s Grocery Store, 97 Broad St., has continued to provide food in a safe manner to Plainville, Bristol and surrounding communities during this COVID-19 pandemic.
As available we additionally give half-gallons of milk, five-pound potato bags and three pounds of onions. We
have been serving an average 350-400 cars per week. But recently, that number has consistently increased by 40 or more per week. We are currently working
with Foodshare, FEMA and other local entities to provide us with the food necessary to provide for the community. Additionally, we have been getting a lot of deliveries and generous food donations from Stop & Shop, Shoprite, Bagels Plus, Aldi and Amazon. We have found it challenging to fill at least 900 bags every Tuesday using only five volunteers – and adhering to social distancing – but we are up to the task and always manage to get the job done. We are grateful that God has given us the opportunity to continue with His work even, and perhaps especially, during this pandemic. See Parishoners, A13
“Summer camp is summer camp. It may look different but the fun that we’re going to have,” said Carolyn Daniels, camp director of Mountain Mist Day Camp, which is run by the Meriden-New Britain-Berlin YMCA. “The laughter that we’re going to have. The experiences, the friendships.” Many of the safety guidelines were set by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood and the state of Connecticut.
At Camp Sloper and Mountain Mist Day Camp, campers do not have to wear face masks, but the counselors are required to wear them while working. “I joked with my camp staff to say that you’re going to have a mask tan today,” said John Benigni, the CEO of the MeridenNew Britain-Berlin YMCA. “It won’t be just sunglasses, you’ll have a tan with a face of a mask.”
At both day camps at the Boys & Girls Club of Meriden, kids are recommended, but not required to wear masks, according to “We’re still digesting some Executive Director Larue of the guidelines but we Graham. Staff, however, know small are required to wear a groups — groups of 10 mask. kids max per counselor,” said Justin Hubeny, camp The camps will also not allow these smaller groups director of the Southington YMCA’s Camp Sloper. of children to come in “They have to be disSee Camps, A13
Plainville’s oldest funeral home with over 130 years of serving the community. Blaire L. Bouchard – Funeral Director 48 Broad Street Plainville, CT 06062 • 860-747-2295 • Bailey-FuneralHome.com
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Every Wednesday we remain open between the hours of 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a drivethru distribution. We have people drive up to register, pop their trunks and volunteers put at least three bags of food in the car for them.
The magic of summer camp can still be a part of children’s lives this year as many day camps will open, though with strict guidelines for staff and campers.
tanced with one another. Handwashing before and after activities. Things like that. Staff members have to wear masks. Now the challenge is putting a program into place and that’s what we’re working on right now.”