Contributed Photos
Jim Travers got a post-Christmas hug …
… and plaque Monday at his office at the United Way of Greater New Haven, to thank him for his role in helping rescue Christmas for needy New Haven children.
The thanks came from the organizer of a Christmas toy and coat drive in the Dixwell neighborhood, Metashar Bankhead Dillon, who managed to salvage the holiday for thousands of needy families — with lots of help from people with big hearts, like Travers.
Markeshia Ricks Photo
Organizer Dillon and son Chase celebrate in the aisles of Walmart.
Click here and here to read about that rescued Christmas — and read on to see the letter Dillon wrote to all those who helped.
Dear Friend,
For us as at Kingdom International Economic Development Corporation (KIEDC), the pinnacle of 2015 was how each of you throughout the city of New Haven, the entire Nutmeg State, as far south as Florida and Texas, as far west as California and as far East as the People’s of Republic of China came together in the eleventh hour to help children just days before and on Christmas day.
Without hesitation, you opened your hearts, wallets and resources by springing into action. You “met the dire need and solved the problems” we had for toys and coats to warm several thousand children when the “Grinch” and their “Minions” tried to steal Christmas on the backs of this community from the Charles Street police substation two weeks ago.
With gratitude, the eyes of this state, the nation and the world were opened to the limitless potential of the universe because we collectively united.
At KIEDC and our board of directors and volunteers, we write this Epistle of Thanks to you, and the many compassionate souls who gave anonymously; not looking for any praise, but just to do the right thing. We at KIEDC salute you below:
Paul Bass Photo
Tahmir Riddick, 16 months old, at the Dixwell drive.
• Jim Travers, Vice President, Marketing, Communications, and Resource Development United Way of Greater New Haven
• Bruce Van Brakle, Store Manager of Walmart, New Haven, CT
• Rodney A. Butler, Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
• Marna P. Borgstrom, President and Chief Executive Officer, Yale New Haven Hospital
• Ellen Good, Child Life Department, Yale New Haven Hospital
• Kathleen M. Byington, Assistant Vice President Business Operations, Yale University
• Patrick C. O’Brien, Yale University Properties
• Karen King, Director, President’s Public Service Fellowship Community Relations, Yale University
• Victorinox Swiss Army, Inc., Monroe, CT
• Believe In Me Empowerment Corporation - Homeless Shelters
• New Haven Police Department
• New Haven Fire Department
• Michael Carter, Chief Administrative Officer, City of New Haven
• Connecticut Department of Social Services
• Connecticut Department for Children and Families
• United States Marine Corps. Toys for Tots
• United States Senator Christopher Murphy
• Jacqueline James, Small Business Service Center, New Haven
• Viridian Energy
• Richard and Hedy Weiner, Hamden
• Marshall’s Corporation
• Kirsten Levinsohn, Executive Director, New Haven Reads
• Fiona Bradford, Assistant Director, New Haven Reads
• Susan Ellwanger, New Haven Academy
• Adrienne Cochrane, JD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Urban League of Greater Hartford
• ‘r Kids, Inc., New Haven
• New Haven Horizons Alternative School
• Honda Smith, Winter Wonderland
• Veronica Rhodes-Rojas, Community Health Network, Wallingford, CT
• A&M Ground Breakers, LLC, New Haven
• Believe Me Empowerment Corporation, New Haven
• New Haven Democratic Town Committee
• The Black and Hispanic Caucus for the Board of Alders for the City of Haven
• Oriental Lodge #6 Prince Hall Masons
• Portofino’s Restaurant and Bar, New Haven
• Brick Oven Pizza, New Haven
• Tattoo Shop, Bridgeport, CT
• Dr. Denise Green, MD
• Desmond Pittman, Class 21 New Haven Police Academy
• Tracy Scanlon, Network Recovery, Branford, CT
• William Desenti, North Branford, CT
• Abdul Rahaam, Motorcycle Crew, Hamden, CT
• Katerina Porto, West Haven
• Robert Messore
• Tony Violano
• Bill and Ana Winn
• Diane Rodrigues, Guilford, CT
• A woman from the town of Danbury
With God’s Blessings and Heartfelt Thanks,
Metashar Bankhead Dillon
Founder and Chairperson
Glad to know it seems to have come out OK , God bless them all
What is the scoop re the other charity and the other woman pictured as villains in the original story? Still investigating, or cleared of guilt?
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