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The Mike Barbis Santa Toy Drive brings holiday magic and joy to Carver kids!

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!

Carver needs Toy Drive volunteers on December 14, 15, and 17!

Looking for ways to give back this holiday season? Come volunteer at Carver’s Holiday Toy Drive!

We need volunteers to help us wrap presents on Tuesday, December 14 and Wednesday, December 15 from 10 am to 3 pm. We’re also looking for volunteers to help hand out gifts during the Toy Drive on Friday, December 17 from 3 pm to 6 pm. (If it snows, the event will be held on Monday, December 20 instead). All volunteering will be done at the Carver Community Center in Norwalk.

If you’re interested, please contact Rachel Moledo at rachel@carvercenterct.org.

The 2nd Annual Blessing Bag Giveaway will be held on December 18 at the Carver Community Center

The Norwalk community is welcome to participate in the 2nd Annual Blessing Bag Giveaway on December 18! Entry is free to all.

Items being collected include:

  • Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion*

  • Toothbrushes and toothpaste*

  • Lotion*

  • Deodorant

  • Hand sanitizer, wipes, and disposable masks

  • Socks, gloves and hats

  • Bottled water

  • Gift cards to Dunkin, McDonald’s, Burger
    Kind, etc.

*Travel size recommended

Our after-school students at Side by Side Charter School teamed up with their parents at MSquash!

Students and parents spent an afternoon at MSquash in Norwalk, trying out a brand new mixed-reality sports court called Mball. Engaging parents is a high priority at Carver, which is why we weave activities like this one into all of our after-school and summer programming.

Carver students and parents got a healthy dose of exercise while learning the basics of squash on the Mball courts at MSquash. These courts enable children to practice their hand-eye coordination and improve their cognitive skills - while having a blast in the most playful way! The company says, “it’s like a computer game but with the benefit of physical activity.”

Many thanks to our gracious hosts and Side by Side employees for making this fun event possible!

Help Carver transform more lives on GivingTuesday!

Today is Giving Tuesday!

With your gift, Carver, along with our many education partners, changes the life trajectories of our young scholars. Through our innovative, evidence-based programming and your support our vision to ensure a future where all children succeed can become reality.

Giving Tuesday was founded in 2012 as a global generosity movement working to unleash the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.

How will you join in the celebration?

Carver Kids & the Arts

We take full advantage after school of Norwalk Public Schools being a leading district in the state for giving its students access to the arts.

NPS provides students with a wide array of visual and performing arts opportunities including theatre, visual arts, music, dance, and media arts.

One of our close partners is The Norwalk Art Space within walking distance to the Carver Community Center.

Check out the video below featuring NPS students across the district participating in a variety of visual and performing arts activities.