By Dan Gilbert
The Kiwanis Club of Weston’s food and healthcare products drive last Saturday was an outstanding success, with the support of Weston High School’s Key Club and Senior Connections Club. and volunteers from the Weston Food Pantry.
While Mother Nature didn’t honor my request for a dry day with mid-30s temperatures, our volunteer team showed up big time. On a cold, wet Saturday morning with a steady snowfall, our volunteers helped Westonites help their neighbors in need. Our team was composed of: Key Club President Alice Sullivan and Edhen Young, Abby Aulenbach, and Hailey Samuels; Weston Food Pantry President Anne Bigin, Weston High School Senior Connections Club Co-founder Ryan Bigin; and Weston Kiwanians Reed Ameden, Dave Burns, Karen Chrisley, Phyliss Gary, Barbara Gross, Steve Haas, Harvey Luft, Jim McMorris, Harry Spencer, Steve Thomas, and Lauren Traum.
Anne Bigin, appreciating the success, noted:
“I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Weston and our Weston High School’s Key Club and Senior Connections Club for making the recent food drive for the Weston Food Pantry such a success. Despite braving the elements and the holiday weekend, our amazing volunteers and supporters came together to collect over 60 full bags of shelf-stable food, along with$266.30 in generous cash and Venmo donations.
This event would not have been possible without the leadership and continued support of Weston Kiwanis and Dan Gilbert. Thank you to the Kiwanis members for your ongoing commitment to our town, especially to the Weston Food Pantry. A special thank you goes to our Weston High School Key Club volunteers this morning. I’m also incredibly grateful to the Weston High School Senior Connections Club, and especially to Ryan Bigin, who is always there to help load, transport, and unload the bounty from our food drives. Because of all of you, families in our community will have access to much-needed food and support. Thank you again for showing what true community spirit looks like.”
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Last Updated: January 21, 2026 by Robert Uzenoff
Kiwanis Food Drive a Success
By Dan Gilbert
The Kiwanis Club of Weston’s food and healthcare products drive last Saturday was an outstanding success, with the support of Weston High School’s Key Club and Senior Connections Club. and volunteers from the Weston Food Pantry.
While Mother Nature didn’t honor my request for a dry day with mid-30s temperatures, our volunteer team showed up big time. On a cold, wet Saturday morning with a steady snowfall, our volunteers helped Westonites help their neighbors in need. Our team was composed of: Key Club President Alice Sullivan and Edhen Young, Abby Aulenbach, and Hailey Samuels; Weston Food Pantry President Anne Bigin, Weston High School Senior Connections Club Co-founder Ryan Bigin; and Weston Kiwanians Reed Ameden, Dave Burns, Karen Chrisley, Phyliss Gary, Barbara Gross, Steve Haas, Harvey Luft, Jim McMorris, Harry Spencer, Steve Thomas, and Lauren Traum.
Anne Bigin, appreciating the success, noted:
“I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Weston and our Weston High School’s Key Club and Senior Connections Club for making the recent food drive for the Weston Food Pantry such a success. Despite braving the elements and the holiday weekend, our amazing volunteers and supporters came together to collect over 60 full bags of shelf-stable food, along with$266.30 in generous cash and Venmo donations.
This event would not have been possible without the leadership and continued support of Weston Kiwanis and Dan Gilbert. Thank you to the Kiwanis members for your ongoing commitment to our town, especially to the Weston Food Pantry. A special thank you goes to our Weston High School Key Club volunteers this morning. I’m also incredibly grateful to the Weston High School Senior Connections Club, and especially to Ryan Bigin, who is always there to help load, transport, and unload the bounty from our food drives. Because of all of you, families in our community will have access to much-needed food and support. Thank you again for showing what true community spirit looks like.”
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Category: Blog Post
Upcoming events
Breakfast Meeting with program: Homes with Hope
Incorporated on December 5, 1983, Homes with Hope (formerly the Interfaith Housing Association) opened in 1984 as a homeless shelter for single men, and occupied a retired firehouse owned by the Town of Westport. Local religious organizations worked together to create the Interfaith Housing Association in response to an increased number of homeless individuals, primarily men, who were turning to them for aid.
Homes with Hope has grown significantly since 1984. As the need began to increase, we realized that food and shelter alone were not enough to help people move from homelessness to self-reliance. In response, Homes with Hope expanded the support services and housing options currently available to our clients by providing the resources needed for them to be successful in their journey out of homelessness.
Today, the agency provides emergency shelter for men and women, supportive housing for individuals and families, rapid re-housing, diversion services, a community kitchen, food pantry, youth development programs and mentoring. Our knowledgeable and innovative staff develops individualized case management plans with sustainable solutions so that everyone we serve has the opportunity to achieve and maintain an independent life.
Helen McAlinden (President & CEO) Since taking the helm in 2020, Helen has expanded the agency by 25 supportive housing apartments and transformed its focus—now serving over 80% prevention-based clients, compared to its previous near-exclusive focus on the chronically homeless. Under her leadership, Helen has secured over $10 million in funding from the Department of Housing to create new housing and renovate critical facilities like the Gillespie Center and Susie’s House. She has significantly increased grants and private donations and strategically repositioned Homes with Hope to quickly capitalize on any new housing opportunities across the region. Originally from a rural farming town in western Ireland, Helen immigrated to New York at age 17. Volunteering to feed the homeless in the Bronx ignited a lifelong commitment, leading her to leave a successful business career after 9/11 and pursue social work full-time. For over 25 years, she has been a respected leader in affordable and supportive housing, successfully advocating for thousands of Connecticut families to reunite in safe, stable homes.
Helen is a recognized leader in her field, having presented at top national and regional conferences, including the National Alliance to End Homelessness and the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness. She also co-chairs Opening Doors Fairfield County and its Advocacy Committee, advancing housing-focused policies and initiatives. Helen is also a board member of the Westport Downtown Association and an active member of the Westport Rotary Club. Helen holds a Master of Social Work from Fordham University and a BS in Leadership Management from Manhattan College. A dual citizen of Ireland and the U.S., Helen brings a global perspective to her work and values time spent with family and friends.
Weston Kiwanis meets most Saturdays from September through June at Norfield Congregational Church parish hall. Doors open at 8 a.m. for coffee and conversation, with the breakfast meeting beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending no later than 10 a.m. After breakfast, we have a speaker or community service activity.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Board Meetings with Committee Chairs
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Community Service - Food Drive
NO MEETING
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Save-the-Dates
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Board Meetings with Committee Chairs
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Board Meetings with Committee Chairs
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Board Meetings with Committee Chairs
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Board Meetings with Committee Chairs
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Board Meetings with Committee Chairs
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Board Meetings with Committee Chairs
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Board Meetings with Committee Chairs
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Breakfast Meeting.
Meetings are open to all, drop-ins are welcome, and your first breakfast, normally $10 for a full breakfast or $5 for a continental, is on us.
Board Meetings with Committee Chairs
Board Meetings with Committee Chairs
Board Meetings with Committee Chairs
Board Meetings with Committee Chairs