Rowayton volunteers deliver a mountain of gifts to the Carver Community Center today
For many years, the Rowayton Civic Association has supported Carver’s annual holiday party with a mountain of gifts. And this year was the most generous of them all.
The co-founders of the Toy Drive, Joan DeRegt and Mike Barbis, personally delivered the holiday season’s veritable “plum pudding stuffed with good things” for more than 10 years.
This year, the annual Santa Run was renamed THE MIKE BARBIS SANTA TOY DRIVE to honor Mike, Rowayton’s late commissioner and longtime Carver friend and advocate. Among his many commitments to the Carver community, the Toy Drive was one of Mike’s favorite. And this year’s response in Mike’s memory was truly overwhelming.
Joan and Mike were both volunteer firefighters in Rowayton. Joan’s favorite memory of Mike is when they delivered the toys one year. “He was in his convertible with the top down, wearing a Santa hat with a big grin on his face. I was following him in my Jeep and smiling the whole way.”
Volunteer Rowayton firefighter Silvia Doyle, aongside co-founders of the Rowayton Fire Department Toy Drive Joan DeRegt and Mike Barbis, at the Dec. 2018 Toy Drive
Santa made his annual visit to Rowayton this year as always aboard his big red fire engine sleigh last Sunday. Santa started at the Rowayton Train Station, then made rounds through Rowayton, stopping at the corner of Crest and Ridgewood, The Rowayton Library, the Bell Island Gatehouse, South Beach, The Beach Association boathouse, and Brendan’s 101. Children were able to visit Santa at the Rowayton Fire Station later in the afternoon.
Rowayton residents generously brought their gifts to the Rowayton Fire Station as the Rowayton volunteer firefighters collected the new toys and gift cards for the Carver Center’s holiday party.
We miss Mike terribly. We are deeply grateful to the Rowayton Civic Association for keeping his memory alive and for this year’s event sponsors William Raveis Real Estate and Classic Prep Kids and all the participating Rowayton residents for helping to make Carver kids feel so special and loved.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE!
