How You Can Help: Operation Snuggle Newtown

We all had the same reaction when we first heard the news of the mass shootings at Sandy Hook School in Newtown: shock and disbelief.

And then, when the reality set in that 20 children and six adults had indeed been murdered at the school by a gunman, we all again had the same feeling — 'What can I do to help?'

Patch Ad Manager Lindsay Braun wanted to do more than watch what was happening. On Friday night, less than 12 hours after the shootings, she sent this email to her colleagues across eastern Connecticut:

"Fellow Patch Team members, As many of you are probably feeling tonight, this senseless tragedy has made us all feel helpless. I want to do something for these poor families. I will be collecting stuffed animals for the children of Newtown over the next week. ... I want these children to have something to comfort them, and something to hug in the coming weeks as this all unfolds."

And so was born Operation Snuggle Newtown.

Even though Newtown is miles from most of the Patch towns in what we call eastern Connecticut, we are all united in our feelings about what happened. Newtown is Stonington; Newtown is Avon; Newtown is Vernon; Newtown is Durham. It could be any of us going through what the residents of Newtown are going through, and through the power of Patch we want to show those folks — and especially those children — that they are not alone.

Below is a list of local businesses that have agreed to be drop-off locations for Operation Sunggle Newtown. This week, if you can, drop off a new teddy bear at any of these businesses. If you'd like, please leave a card with your name and feel free to share your thoughts of condolence. We want to show Newtown that they are not alone. 

If you are a business and would like to be a drop-off point for Operation Snuggle Newtown, please leave your business name, street address and town in the comments and we will add you to the list.

Operation Snuggle Newtown Drop-Offs

West Hartford

• Learning or Leisure Club (LOL Club), 7 North Main St.,  West Hartford Center

Avon

• Avon Country Deli, 136 Simsbury Road Bldg 11, Avon