caption:
Darla Rilling, holding the bow, stands with her family/staff after Little Lucy Snack Shoppe's welcome to downtown Putnam. The bow from the ribbon cutting and the plaque given to her by the Putnam Business Association are there. More photos Wed. night on our FB page: Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger. Linda Lemmon photo.
'Little Lucy' goes for the good
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Using something as simple as a snack to enact change.
At the official welcome to Little Lucy Snacks Shoppe last week, there was definitely a doing-good-for-the-community vibe.
Snacks offered by the shop inside the Montgomery Ward building are organic and many of them are fund-raisers for worthy community causes.
Deputy Mayor Roy Simmons welcomed the shop saying her business model was giving “right out of the gate.” Putnam Business Association past president Gary Osbrey also welcomed the business.
Carly DeLuca, Economic and Community Development director, said Darla Rilling had worked in the natural foods industry and brought all that, plus compassion and giving to the shop.
“One day (a few years ago) while downtown, she wandered into the Putnam Economic Development Office on Main Street and got to talking with my predecessor, Delpha (Very). Delpha recognized the potential Darla and her idea had — not only did she have an extensive background in natural foods and marketing, but she has an impressive drive and a compassion for her community.”
Then COVID hit. Rilling carried on with her idea, just without a storefront.
DeLuca said: “Darla has taken a winding path to get here, but we are so happy she is. Little Lucy’s Snack Shoppe opened in the summer of 2022 online while delivering within a 10-mile radius.”
Opening the storefront, Rilling said, was a “long-standing dream.” She said she believes people bond over simple things like snacks and food. She said she aims to be a “happy spot.” “Hopefully everyone feels welcome.”
DeLuca added: “One of the aspects of this business I find the most interesting is its commitment to ethical responsibility. Every brand Darla decides to work with has a charitable component, either socially or environmentally. An example of this is her veteran-owned sodas where every purchase of a soda will donate $1 to Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse. Another great resource she offers is to be a retail incubator for emerging brands. She allows her storefront to be a classroom — trying out different packaging, sizing, and pricing on items.”
And who is Little Lucy? Rilling showed off a photo of an orange cat. “This is Little Lucy, our little snack bandit.”
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Access Community Action Agency was awarded a $141,000 Community Impact Grant to purchase a Mobile Market Truck as part of Connecticut Foodshare’s $1.4 million investment in partner food pantries and meal programs across the state.
Access is now calling for the Community to help “fill the truck” and bring fresh accessible food to Windham and Tolland counties. For the first time, Access has joined the Connecticut Foodshare’s Annual Walk for Hunger at Hartford’s Dunkin’ Donuts Park. Now through May 20 Access is accepting donations through the Connecticut Foodshare’s online platform where participants can join the team or donate on the Access Fundraising page at Connecticut Foodshare’s site: http://bit.ly/3nx6aMF.
Access was 1 of 53 Organizations to receive an award through Connecticut Foodshare Community Impact Grants Program. These grants were awarded to strengthen organizations operations, expand food access and improve the neighbor experience. The new Mobile Market Truck will help Access to improve their Mobile Food Pantry and deliver more customer-focused, culturally relevant food in a more dignified way. “We are extremely grateful and excited to receive this award, says Sherry Perkins, Specialist-Fund Development at Access, “and the truck should arrive sometime this fall”.
The Foodshare Walk Against Hunger is the largest anti-hunger event of its kind in Connecticut and is a free event with no registration fee or minimum donation. Participants are encouraged to raise funds for their chosen benefiting partner program throughout the state.
The Walk will take place May 20.
Register now for the 2023 Connecticut Foodshare Walk Against Hunger with Access and with your help we can end food insecurity in NE CT! Help us raise $3,000 and “fill the truck” by May 20 to purchase and provide Emergency Meals to over 4,000 families this year! 100% of funds raised will benefit the Access Food Pantries - Site-Based and Mobile.
If you are unable to join on Walk day, you can still support our event by donating online and participating virtually by walking your own 1.5 mile route and using #ctfoodsharewalk on social media. For more info: 860-450-7400 ext. 7459 or
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No menus --- SPRING BREAK!
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Legal Notice
Town of Putnam
Board of Finance
Public Hearing
April 11, 2023
6:00 PM
The Putnam Board of Finance will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at 6:00 PM in the Putnam Middle School Auditorium, 35 Wicker Street, Putnam, CT. The purpose of said hearing will be to receive public comment on the proposed FY 2023/2024 General Government Budget, including bonded indebtedness, EMS Budget, School SRO & SSO Budget, Library Budget, Education Budget and Capital Improvement Plan .
This meeting will also be available via Zoom:
Topic: Board of Finance Public Hearing
Time: Apr 11, 2023 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83745899062
Meeting ID: 837 4589 9062
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
March 30, 2023
April 6, 2023
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