The Great Round-Up

It’s been a busy weekend, criss-crossing town as we try to capture a little bit of the holiday spirit. The annual Community Round-Up reminded us once again why we’re lucky to live here.  This community has got your back. Hundreds participated covering every inch of Durham and Middlefield, gathering food for the Amazing Grace food bank in Middletown. The coordination efforts by director, Beth Galligan and the Local Wellness Council proved to be successful as scores of faculty, students, parents and community members made the food drive a huge success. The drive has become such a well-oiled machine that within hours, thousands of cans were collected.   They gathered early on Saturday in the High School cafeteria to share some breakfast and fuel up for the big collection. Perhaps what’s best about the day was watching young and old work together on a common cause.  There was a task for everyone. Small troops of kids covered neighborhoods “trick-or-treat” style.  Peter had a blast running from door to door seeing what he could collect with his friends.  Members of the community opened their doors and hearts to those in need as they gave food, money and gift cards. Back at Coginchaug High School, the food drive’s home base, an energetic group collected, counted, sorted, packed and moved tons of food to be brought to the food pantry. Unlike larger towns, we may lack in some of the great facilities and services they provide, but time and time again, I am reassured that this community has got what it takes. In just three months, Durham and Middlefield have banded together to create the best fair in the state of Connecticut and weathered two nasty storms seamlessly. Today, these towns proved once again, it could handle its fair share of work, when it’s all done together.  When all is said and done, there is no better group of people I would rather round-up than this community.