GREENWICH, CT — After a two-year delay, Parsonage Cottage last month finally received a new van so senior residents can get out and about and participate in special trips and experiences.
The old, aging van, which was used to get the senior residents out for shopping, appointments and field trips, needed to be replaced, so Parsonage Cottage started a fundraising campaign with a goal of just over $75,000 in 2021.
The community rallied together and quickly responded by raising the money, but supply chain issues put a damper on acquiring the specialized van, a 12-passenger, 2023 Mercedes Sprinter Van, which is equipped with step boards and extra handles so seniors can maneuver in and out easily.
Find out what's happening in Greenwichwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Parsonage Cottage was able to use community resources like Call-A-Ride or the Transportation Association of Greenwich over the past two years, which Parsonage Cottage Director Penny Lore called “great assets” for the community. But naturally, there was limited access and some timing issues here and there.
The new van finally arrived in early October, and while the past two years have been frustrating at times, according to Lore, it appears to have been worth the wait.
Find out what's happening in Greenwichwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“I actually took about seven or eight of the residents with me to pick up the van in Norwalk, and it was very exciting,” Lore said. “Since then, we’ve taken many trips and outings around town.”
Residents were able to vote in person during the most recent municipal election, and there have also been weekly breakfast outings and lunch trips on Greenwich Avenue, and shopping in Riverside, along with medical appointments.
There have also been a few special trips, the first of which was to the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, CT.
“Just the laughter and the singalong to and from Mohegan made the simple pleasure of taking a road trip great. [The residents are] still talking about it and made me promise to take them back monthly,” Lore said.
More recently, several seniors took a memorable trip to Stew Leonard’s in Norwalk for some seasonal apple cider and donuts.
One of the residents didn’t want to go but eventually joined after Lore did some convincing.
“After walking around the store we got back to the van, and he said, ‘This has made me so happy. I’m so glad I came. It brought back memories of when my wife and I used to bring our children and taste the food samples and go to the petting zoo.’ He told me that was back in the 1960s when they first opened,” Lore said. “That made his day, which of course made my day.”
Remaining active as a senior is very important, Lore said, and the van allows the 40 residents at Parsonage Cottage to do that.
“They need the stimulation, they need the outings, they need to socialize and meet with people and see what’s going on in the town,” Lore added. “A lot of these people are from the town — they were police, they were teachers, they worked on the Avenue, so it’s very important to them to stay connected.”
Les Russo, a Parsonage resident for over 10 years, said recently a van trip can turn a day into something special.
“Being able to visit all the wonderful parts of Greenwich and beyond, to interact with new people, and just to get a change of scenery makes a regular day something special,” Russo said in an announcement about the van’s arrival.
Of course, the fundraising campaign for the van would not have been possible without the generous support from the community, from young and old, to businesses, individuals and elected officials.
Early in the campaign, a philanthropic Greenwich family, who wanted to remain anonymous, donated $25,000 in honor of their mother, who had recently died.
Another significant contribution came from The Resource Foundation, which supported the fundraising effort with a $10,000 gift.
Alison Allen, Resource Foundation’s managing director, said that at the time of their donation, they had always been impressed with how Parsonage cares for its residents.
When she heard about their need, she said, “It is only natural to want to support this effort. What can be more basic than supporting our seniors and giving them the best quality of life,” according to a news release.
Several local small businesses, like McArdle’s Floral & Garden Design, J.McLaughlin, Emboss, LLC, medical spa Beyond Beautiful by Melissa, and more, also chipped in.
Elected officials like First Selectman Fred Camillo, state Rep. Stephen Meskers (D-150) and former state Rep. Harry Arora (R-151) spread the word and raised awareness about the campaign with their constituents, Lore said.
“Their endorsement and active involvement added a significant weight to the campaign, and it highlighted the unity of purpose in our community,” Lore noted.
Some of Greenwich’s youngest residents also helped raise money.
Parsonage Cottage’s two Junior Advisory Boards, made up of high school students and eighth graders, planned and hosted fundraising events at Parsonage Cottage over the last few years, such as a mini-golf event in June and the Parsonage Cottage holiday parade and gift delivery in December.
“It really defines how great Greenwich is,” Lore said of the community effort.
For the holidays, the residents have plans to attend some Christmas shows in Ridgefield and perhaps Westchester. Next week, there will be a field trip to Putnam Cottage, the oldest operating museum and one of the most historic homes in Greenwich, for a history tour and lunch outing.
Lore, who is also one of the drivers of the van, says she plans to make two trips to Putnam Cottage so more residents can attend.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.