Last week, I wrote a story for The Bristol Press about the Rockwell and Ride biking fundraiser for the city's homeless shelters.
The second annual Rockwell & Ride event is set for Sunday, August 29, starting at Rockwell Park.
Phil Lysiak, the executive director of the St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Bristol, said the money raised from the ride will help support the programs at the 25-bed Bristol Emergency Shelter; The Elms, a 13-bed long-term transitional shelter for single men and a 10-unit transitional living center for women with children.
He said fundraisers and donations must make up about 20 percent of the organization’s $1 million annual operating budget.
Last year, 200 riders netted about $8,500 for St. Vincent DePaul. This time, they want to double the ridership with an even better event, hoping to raise $15,000.
This year there will be a post-ride lunch and a DJ playing music and a new road bike raffled off.
Riders will choose from a 25-mile ride, a 50-mile ride and a 75-mile ride that stretches far into Litchfield County near People’s State Forest, said Lysiak. The event isn’t designed to be a competition, but rather a way for people to get out, meet people, have fun and raise money for the shelters.
A “sag wagon” will travel each route to pick up anyone who's too pooped to pedal anymore, or has a busted bike.
Registration has started and can be done online at www.svdpofbristol.com or www.bikereg.com. Entry fees are $30 for ages 16 and older and $15 for ages six through 15.
The story is on the Press website under "business." (http://www.bristolpress.com/.)
Showing posts with label Phil Lysiak. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Phil Lysiak. Show all posts
Monday, July 26, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Need Increasing, But Cuts in Funding Expected
The Bristol Cares committee met today, exchanging information on what is still a tough time for social service agencies and the people they serve. Here's what I wrote for Friday's edition of The Bristol Press (www.bristolpress.com):
BRISTOL – Human service agencies in Bristol are bracing for more cuts in state funding, even as the number of people in need of help continues to climb.
“There’s going to be cuts. We all know that,” said Thomas Morrow, chairman of the Bristol Cares committee. But the cuts are coming at a time when the demand for services is great, he said.
“The shelter’s full,” said Phil Lysiak, executive director of the St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Bristol, which operates three homeless shelters in town.
Last year, Lysiak said, they were hit with a $7,000 cut in aid from the state Department of Social Services and he expects another this year.
To cope, Lysiak said, his board is planning a new fundraiser every month that they hope will grow. They’ve had a family night event at a health club and next will have a wine tasting at St. Gregory’s CCD Center on Saturday, Feb. 20.
“We’re going to have a classical guitarist,” said Lysiak.
Mayor Art Ward said that while he keeps hearing “little glimmers of hope,” he knows that the reality is that citizens continue to struggle with lost jobs and reduced hours.
Ward said “the need is as great, if not greater” than when he started the committee more than a year ago, then called Winter ’09.
“People are being affected by the economy,” said Morrow. “We’re all feeling it.”
Morrow, who is the executive director of the Bristol Community Organization, said unprecedented numbers of people are coming for help with home heating costs.
BCO energy assistance caseworkers are seeing three or four people every 15 minutes, said Morrow.
“It doesn’t stop,” he said. “People are looking for every opportunity to stretch what dollars they have.”
BRISTOL – Human service agencies in Bristol are bracing for more cuts in state funding, even as the number of people in need of help continues to climb.
“There’s going to be cuts. We all know that,” said Thomas Morrow, chairman of the Bristol Cares committee. But the cuts are coming at a time when the demand for services is great, he said.
“The shelter’s full,” said Phil Lysiak, executive director of the St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Bristol, which operates three homeless shelters in town.
Last year, Lysiak said, they were hit with a $7,000 cut in aid from the state Department of Social Services and he expects another this year.
To cope, Lysiak said, his board is planning a new fundraiser every month that they hope will grow. They’ve had a family night event at a health club and next will have a wine tasting at St. Gregory’s CCD Center on Saturday, Feb. 20.
“We’re going to have a classical guitarist,” said Lysiak.
Mayor Art Ward said that while he keeps hearing “little glimmers of hope,” he knows that the reality is that citizens continue to struggle with lost jobs and reduced hours.
Ward said “the need is as great, if not greater” than when he started the committee more than a year ago, then called Winter ’09.
“People are being affected by the economy,” said Morrow. “We’re all feeling it.”
Morrow, who is the executive director of the Bristol Community Organization, said unprecedented numbers of people are coming for help with home heating costs.
BCO energy assistance caseworkers are seeing three or four people every 15 minutes, said Morrow.
“It doesn’t stop,” he said. “People are looking for every opportunity to stretch what dollars they have.”
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