Once again The East Haddam Community Foundation will be hosting it's annual gala fundraiser at the Gelston House on Saturday March 16, 2024.   This year we are recognizing 3 exceptional volunteers.

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Nancy McGlynn Carpentier - 2024 Foundation Hero

After moving to East Haddam in 1991 with her husband and two daughters, working for almost 30 years in the restaurant business and real estate, and then retiring, Nancy had an epiphany. Staring at an extra lasagna in her freezer, she figured that there must be someone who needed that. In 2020, this is what started her mission to supply those in town with fully cooked meals. She was very much surprised at how many reached out for help. Currently, with the help of many local donations, bakers and other cooks, she lovingly supplies over 200 locals in need with weekly meals. “I couldn’t do it without their help,” and Nancy always adds, “it takes a village.”      

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Jennifer Reynolds – 2024 Volunteer of the Year
“For me, being a first responder is an honor that I take very seriously. We are helping people in their greatest time of need, and to be a person who can help them through that time is very humbling and ultimately rewarding.” says Deputy Chief Jennifer Reynolds.  Jen has been working in the emergency response field for the last 26 years.  Professionally she is currently a paramedic with Middlesex Health.  But volunteering is her true passion.  “Volunteering tends to draw like minded people together creating a greater force resulting in  a bigger impact. It’s like a train, that once it gains enough momentum, with enough volunteers working together towards a common goal it becomes more efficient and impactful.”

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Don Henson – 2024 Volunteer of the Year
Don Henson, a Vietnam Vet moved into town just five years ago. Serving as the Veterans Service Officer for the VFW and the town, Don assists vets with any issues. Keeping up with his volunteering here is a challenge. Tuesdays you’ll find Don at our food bank. Other days, you’ll find him in one of our many cemeteries. He has located 233 veterans that didn’t have flag holders and flags. Once that project was completed, Don and his “Cemetery Troopers” repaired and reset 25 broken or leaning gravestones and cleaned countless others. With his latest endeavor, Don has brought more people as far as Clinton into the American Legion and boosted the VFW's fund-raising at the same time. Corn-hole is now happening every Wednesday night!