Marching Forward with Easterseals | | Rock Your Socks for World Down Syndrome Day! | | |
Join us the week of March 16 as we celebrate World Down Syndrome Day (Saturday, March 21) by rocking our craziest, brightest, most mismatched socks! The “Rock Your Socks” tradition is a fun and visible way to show support, raise awareness, and celebrate the incredible contributions of people with Down syndrome.
This year’s global theme focuses on loneliness, reminding us that connection and belonging are essential for health, happiness, and community. By participating, we help spark conversations about inclusion and the importance of ensuring everyone feels seen, valued, and connected.
We want to see your socks!
Send photos of your wild and wonderful sock combinations to vcammarota@escrec.org and you may be featured on our social media platforms as we celebrate together. Let’s fill the week with color, creativity, and a shared message of inclusion.
So dig out those bold socks and Rock Your Socks with us!
| | | Make a LIMITLESS Impact at our Largest Fundraiser of the Year! | | |
Join Easterseals for an elegant evening where generosity meets impact at the 2026 Easterseals Crystal Ball benefiting Easterseals Veterans’ and disability programs! On Saturday, March 21st, step into a night that celebrates limitless potential—and the power of community to change lives.
The Easterseals Crystal Ball is a prime networking opportunity attended by hundreds of corporate executives, the medical community, local, state, and nationally elected officials, and prominent members of the community.
| | Support Groups at our Easterseals | | |
“The group helped me learn better ways to communicate, handle disagreements, and resolve issues. It helped me learn to keep myself more calm and to deal with things better.”
- Shalunda, a SPARK participant.
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S.P.A.R.K. (Social Practice and Relationship Knowledge)
Our S.P.A.R.K. group has completed its first successful session and is now enrolling for the next 12-week session beginning March 30th, meeting Mondays at 1:00 PM. This group focuses on building communication and relationship skills such as starting and maintaining conversations, making friends, deepening relationships, and coping with interpersonal stress. Participants are encouraged to practice skills between sessions and are rewarded for their efforts. Click for Flyer
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NeuroWise: Neurodiversity-Affirming DBT Skills Group
NeuroWise launches its first 12-week session on March 25th, meeting Wednesdays at 10:00 AM. This group is for adults 18+ who identify as autistic, ADHD, or otherwise neurodivergent and want tools to manage anxiety, depression, emotional reactivity, sensory needs, and everyday stressors. The group adapts Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills in an accessible, neurodiversity-affirming way.
Click for Flyer
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Clinical Therapy Openings Available! Our licensed clinical staff provide compassionate care for the prevention and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral challenges. We help individuals and families strengthen coping skills, improve communication, and enhance overall well-being. Staff specializes in neurodivergent children, adolescents, and young adults, helping them to develop skills to thrive socially, emotionally, and academically.
Contact: clinicalservices@escrec.org, 860-270-0600 x100
| | Practical Tools for Leading, Coping, & Caring | |
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Learning Skills for Life
Check out some hospitality careers and wellbeing training courses from our friends at Diageo—choose the modules that are right for you! Topics include: Communication & Teamwork, Equality & Diversity, Selling your Personal Brand, and MORE!
If you’re interested in general workplace skills, self-care including responsible consumption tips or service/hospitality training, access the modules HERE
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Nutrition: Rethink Your Drink!
Many beverages like alcohol, sugar-sweetened drinks, specialty coffees, and energy drinks contain high amounts of added sugars, caffeine, and empty calories that offer little to no nutritional value. For example, specialty coffee drinks often contain hundreds of calories, most of which come from added sugars and fats.While these popular drinks often provide shortterm enjoyment, they can lead to long-term health consequences. Learn more HERE
Recipe of the Month: Pizza Casserole
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The Sandwich Club: Tools for Caregivers
Caregiving can feel overwhelming—especially when you're supporting both aging parents and children. That’s why Easterseals is sharing The Sandwich Club, a digital membership built to support caregivers with empathy, tools, and community.
Get immediate answers from an AI trained to respond to caregiving questions, plus insights and encouragement from a community of fellow caregivers. From curated guides to real-life advice, The Sandwich Club helps you navigate challenges with clarity, confidence, and connection. Check it out HERE
| | | | New Partnership: FreeWill | | | |
Making Legacy Planning Simple
Easterseals has teamed up with FreeWill to help you make or update your will in just 20 minutes, at no cost. It’s a simple way to protect loved ones and plan your legacy.
If you choose to include a gift to Easterseals, you’ll ensure ongoing critical support for Veterans and people with disabilities for generations to come.
| | | Board Member Goes Viral at the SUPERBOWL! | | |
One of our Easterseals’ long time Board of Directors, Dave Stevens, went viral at the Super Bowl with his interview of Patriots LB Jack Gibbens: HERE
This was actually Dave’s 30th time covering the Super Bowl, first for 20 years with ESPN (with 7 Emmys to his name) and now with Radio Row credentials for his own Dave Stevens Show. Dave is also the only person to ever play college football or minor league baseball without legs. He played nose guard at Division III Augsburg University in Minnesota, and he once pinch-hit for Darryl Strawberry during a stint with the St. Paul Saints.
As an Easterseals Board of Directors member for Easterseals Capitol Region and Eastern Connecticut, in 2023 via funding from Comcast NBCUniversal to Easterseals, Dave also spearheaded a Digital Media Lab to offer veterans a creative storytelling outlet and a way to teach media and social media literacy: HERE
Here’s also some additional coverage of Dave at the SuperBowl:
• @CBSSports/@NFLonCBS: HERE
• @SportsCenter: HERE
• MSN: HERE
• @MLFootball: HERE
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SSG Fox Suicide Prevent Grant Announces Expansion
Easterseals Capital Region & Eastern Connecticut recently hosted a press conference to announce an expanded federal award through the VA’s Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, bringing total funding to $750,000 and growing life-saving Veteran suicide prevention services into Hartford County.
The expansion allows Veterans Rally Point to now serve more than 35,000 Veterans across 79 towns in eastern and central Connecticut—click HERE to read the full press release. To connect with our SSG Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Case Managers, call our direct, confidential line (860) 859-4151 or email VetsHelp@escrec.org.
Additional coverage of the event can be found here:
Fox61 Article: Click Here
Fox61 Youtube: Click Here
WTNH Article: Click Here
Yahoo News: Click Here
Windsor Journal: Click Here
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Our IHS participant, Christine, spread a little extra love this Valentine’s Day 💕 Christine thoughtfully created special Valentine’s cards for all the residents in her facility who celebrate February birthdays. She carefully decorated each heart-shaped card, proudly signed her name, and personally handed them out during the Valentine’s Day party. It was a beautiful reminder that small acts of kindness can make a big impact. ❤️
Our In-Home Supports program offers personalized services to help adults with disabilities live more independently and safely in their own homes and communities.
Learn more HERE
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Our East Hartford Adult Day Support team recently enjoyed an incredible trip to Riverside Reptiles Education Center, where participants learned all about different reptiles—and even met a very special snake named Banana.
Before the trip, staff talked about the reptiles, and some individuals shared that they didn’t plan to touch—or even get close to—the animals. But with encouragement from staff and a supportive environment, everyone ended up petting Banana during the visit! It was a powerful moment of confidence-building, curiosity, and trying something new. See more HERE
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Our Adult Day Support participants in Norwich recently spent quality time in the Veterans Rally Point kitchen for a hands-on pizza making class led by VRP Kitchen Manager Hazel Proulx and volunteer extraordinaire, Rene. From prepping ingredients to building their own creations, Kevin, Steven, David, Debbie, and Paul rolled up their sleeves and got to work — with support from staff Amelia and Sarah.
To make it even more special, the VRP Sewing Club customized chef hats just for the participants!!
Moments like this are what our Easterseals is all about — connection, creativity, and celebrating every accomplishment.
Read the full article HERE
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Rebuilding Minds. Bodies. Lives.
Exclusively for Service Members, Veterans, and their families.
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Special Dates/Events
March 3rd: Navy Reserve Birthday
March 8th: Daylight Savings Time
March 13th: K9 Veterans Day (K9 Corps Bday)
March 14th: NEW! Clay-fundamentals class begins at VRP (See flyer below)
March 17th: St. Patrick's Day
March 17th: VRP Digital Media Broadcasting Begins (See flyer below)
March 16th: Computer 101 w/ Mike D. Begins (See flyer below)
March 19th: PWR Program Begins (See flyer below)
March 19th: NEW! Yoga begins at VRP! (See flyer below)
March 21st: 2026 Annual Crystal Ball Fundraiser
March 25th: Medal of Honor Day
March 29th: National Vietnam War Veterans Day
Announcements:
★ FITNESS CENTER REMINDER: Eating is not permitted in the Fitness Center.
★ FITNESS CENTER REMINDER: Children, ages 12 and under, are not permitted in the Fitness Center. Children 13 years of age and older may use the gym while supervised by an adult.
★ Don't forget to wear RED on Fridays at VRP - honoring and remembering those who are deployed. ♥
★ NEW! Yoga at VRP begins the week of March 19th. Join us Thursdays at 4pm, or Saturdays at 10am
★ Grab-N-Go meals are on sale every Tuesday at VRP from 10am until supplies last and are open to the public.
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Opportunities to Connect, Learn & Participate
Click the Flyers Below to View
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SSG Fox Case Manager
Strengthens Community Partnerships
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Easterseals Veterans Rally Point continues to expand its outreach and strengthen partnerships throughout the region in order to better serve Veterans and their families. One example of this growing collaboration took place on Wednesday, February 11th, when Jane Nygren, Case Manager for the SSG Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Team, represented Veterans Rally Point at a community outreach event hosted by Sound Community Services in New London.
During the two-hour tabling event, Jane connected with more than 30 individuals while sharing information about the SSG Fox Suicide Prevention Program and the wide range of services offered through Easterseals Veterans Rally Point. The conversations focused on important topics affecting the veteran community, including mental health, addiction, and the challenges many veterans and their families face during the transition back from deployment.
Events like this highlight the importance of strong partnerships between organizations that share a common mission of supporting those who have served. By working together with community partners such as Sound Community Services, Veterans Rally Point is able to increase awareness of available resources, coordinate support across agencies, and reach Veterans who may otherwise remain underserved in our region.
The outreach also sparked new ideas for collaboration, including the development of peer support groups and opportunities for intercommunity service projects designed to engage younger Veterans between the ages of 19 and 30 in meaningful ways within their local communities. These types of partnerships allow organizations to combine strengths, share resources, and create a broader network of support for veterans and their families.
At Easterseals Veterans Rally Point, we believe that strong community partnerships are essential to creating lasting impact. When organizations come together with a shared purpose, we can expand opportunities, strengthen support systems, and better serve those who have served our country.
Veterans in need of support, or anyone who knows a Veteran who may need assistance, are encouraged to contact Easterseals Veterans Rally Point at vetshelp@escrec.org or (860) 859-4151 to connect with our team.
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Suicide is a national public health crisis that affects all Americans, including Veterans, their families, and their friends. Our team, consisting of Case Managers, Peer Support Specialists, and Outreach Specialists aim to serve and support Active Duty, Veterans and their families when they need it the most. As a Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program awardee, Easterseals Veterans Rally Point offers outreach and education, risk screening, Case Management, referrals for long-term clinical treatment, and wrap-around support.
If you or someone you know is having a Mental Health Crisis and needs immediate assistance, please pass along this contact information:
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Easterseals Veterans Rally Point SSG Fox Program
Norwich (24 Stott Ave. Norwich, CT 06360)
Windsor (100 Deerfield Road, Windsor, CT 06095)
M-F 830am - 4:30pm
(860) 859-4151
VetsHelp@escrec.org
24-7 National Veterans Crisis Line:
Dial 988, press 1 for Veterans
Text 838255
More Info click HERE
Vets4Warriors: Dial 1-855-838-8255
Someone is available right now to answer your call.
There is no time limit on the duration of your call.
There is no limit on the number of times you can call.
| | Peer Meetup Support Group | |
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Peer Meetup is a weekly opportunity to connect and share personal stories and experiences with the Easterseals VRP community or listen to invited guest speakers on various topics.
No registration required. Hot meal served starting at 4:00pm. Speaker begins at 4:30pm.
If you’d like to bring a dessert or drink to share with the group, you are welcome to! Please come, listen and learn, and meet some new friends.
Would you like to share your story? Email Thena Cranfill at tcranfill@escrec.org
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PEER MEETUP SCHEDULE:
March:
3/4- Reyna Castro-Snell, Telemynd, Topic: Virtual Mental health options
3/11-Chelsea/Jane, SSG Fox Grant, Topic- SSG Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program and What you Need to Know
3/18- St. Patrick's Dinner, Music and Conversation (No Speaker), Wear Your Green!
3/25- Ryan King, Topic: Civil Air Patrol and Color Guard Opportunities
April:
4/1-Cedric, Senior Helpers, Topic-Veteran Care
4/8- Marc Perruccio, PSS/RSS, SFC USA (Med Ret), Topic: A Night of Drums & Drumming
4/15- Larry Mclean, Guitars for Vets, Topic-presentation and class opportunities for learning to play.
4/22-Barbara Boiselle, Topic-TBD
4/29-Music,Good Food, and Conversation (No Speaker)
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