Thanks to everyone who put on their waders to venture out to 16 West last night for a community May 5th celebration, the event raised $750 for Norwalk Firefighters Operation Warm! The firefighters will be using the money raised to buy new winter coats for kids in need next fall.
It was a dark and stormy night outside, but inside CLI's new community space it was bright, warm, and hopping-- thanks to DNA Entertainment and volunteers from the Norwalk Fire Department & CLI. Mexican food for the event was catered by Bone Boys with libations purchased through Heidelberg Distributers and Miller's Market. Special credit goes to Wakeman business, Danielion Ideals that Bloom, which has donated time and materials to uniquely decorate for this and other events CLI has hosted this spring. This was CLI's forth and final fundraiser of the spring. CLI has raised $2,850 so far this year to give back to other community endeavors (including the PiggybackFoundation, Services for the Aging, Norwalk Parks & Rec Teen Backpacking Trip, and Operation Warm). CLI is grateful to have so many generous community partners. Planning for the next fall series of events is in the works. Pictures and more information can be found at www.clisupports.com. More information about Operation Warm can be found at www.operationwarm.org.
See Norwalk Reflector article HERE
Above: 16/W managers John Schwartz, also the chief executive officer with CLI, and Holly Binkley (right) cut the ribbon to officially open 16 West, a community space they hope to use as an area to help integrate individuals with disabilities with the community. The community has a valuable new resource right in town — 16/W (pronounced 16 West), a community spot where integration is possible.
Despite many of the recent changes, CLI (Community, Life & Innovation) hasn’t lost one of its main focuses of making a unified community, according to John Schwartz, CLI chief executive officer and manager of the new 16/W, located at, of all places, 16 West Main St. in downtown Norwalk. “There’s been a lot of changes in what we do and what we do for people with disabilities and what pertains to them,” Schwartz said. “(But) our mission is to help our people get integrated into the community. That can be hard to do. If someone has a significant disability, it’s hard to get out of the sheltered workshop on the outside of town to come (into town). Where as here, they can walk or wheel out the front door and access the library or other places downtown.” |
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