Center asking for care packages

WINSTED — The Community Health and Wellness Center has started a collection drive for care package items. The packages will go to assist people in need in the Winsted community. 

Sarah Lauretti Toomey, a program coordinator and medical case manager with the Center, said the center has received donations of a lot of clothes, but it really wants to focus on personal care items like toothpaste and toothbrushes, as well as winter accessories such as gloves, warm hats, hand warmers and socks.

Toomey noted that the Center has always helped the homeless and people in need. 

The agency has clinics in both Winsted and Torrington, and the soup kitchens in each town are satellite operations of the Center. 

She said the mission of the center is to provide affordable, comprehensive medical care to the community regardless of patient’s ability to pay. It accepts all insurances and offers deep discounts for those with incomes at and below federal poverty guidelines.

“We have a sliding pay scale, so if people might not have money to pay for a doctor’s appointment, we can assist them,” Toomey said. “I think that is rare in today’s healthcare industry.”

As a case manager, Toomey said she assists people with such things as medical needs, transportation and benefits.

The agency works with people in Winsted and Torrington and some of the surrounding communities. 

“Between the two towns, we’re trying to assist a little over a 100 people,” she said. “I also work at the Winsted soup kitchen every Wednesday. On average about 40 people come each week and more when it’s colder.”

She said the care packages are going to about 50 people at the soup kitchen in Winsted to assist them through the winter and the holidays.

Items can be dropped off to the Winsted office of Community Health and Wellness Center on the back side of the Winsted Health Center at 115 Spencer St., the Torrington Office at 469 Migeon Ave., or directly to Toomey at Winsted’s Open Door Soup Kitchen at 160 Main St. on Wednesdays between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. If necessary Toomey can also pick up items.

To contact her with questions or to make donation arrangements, call 860-489-0931 ext. 190.

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