CT Vacation occasion held at residence the place meals donation bin was stolen

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — The East Hartford group gathered on Oak Avenue Tuesday evening to spend time with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, get within the Christmas spirit, and donate to their native meals financial institution.

Rick Bollash has embellished his residence with Christmas inflatables for 3 years to offer folks a spot to take a stroll surrounded by vacation pleasure. He collects donations for the St. Mary’s East Hartford Meals Financial institution. Late final week, the bin and the donations in it were stolen from his yard.

After that, the donations have been pouring in. He welcomed folks to his residence Tuesday and stuffed a pickup truck mattress with donations for the meals financial institution. The East Hartford hearth union 1548 collected and donated $1,800.

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“I may cry proper now. It’s unbelievable. The hassle that everyone’s put into this it’s overwhelming. It’s undoubtedly going to be again once more subsequent yr greater and higher,” Bollash stated after receiving the verify. 

Union President Brian Gunnoud says the group all the time steps as much as assist.

“We have been glad to ship out an e mail to our membership. Fortunately, we have now some nice firefighters on this city and all people kicked in a bit of bit to assist out. We simply felt unhealthy this occurred to such a pleasant gentleman who’s attempting to do that for a superb trigger,” he stated.

Bollash says they’ve raised $3,000 in two days for the meals financial institution. He acquired two $500 checks and money donations. His lounge was stuffed with donations as folks felt the necessity to give again.

“I felt like, if somebody felt the necessity to take it, they will need to have wanted it as properly so there are lots of people in want. I’m able the place I might help out a bit of bit, so why not have a good time the vacation spirit by giving again,” neighbor Hank Stephenson instructed FOX61 Saturday as he dropped off meals.

Bollash stated he felt like giving up after the bin was stolen, however his group wished him to proceed.

“When it snowed that weekend, I used to be going to let it keep buried and never resurrect it, however the outpouring that I acquired. Individuals got here by and stated, ‘It’s important to hold it going for our youngsters,'” Bollash stated.

Tony Black is a multi-media journalist at FOX61 Information. He may be reached at tblack@fox61.com. Comply with him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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