Mission: The Junior League of Hartford is an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving our community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.
Background: Since 1921, the League has been identifying needs in the Greater Hartford community, developing programs with collaborating agencies, and raising funds to address those needs. Our 400-plus members donate thousands of volunteer hours annually to league projects and other community service activities. Our current focus is on alleviating hunger in Hartford and our recent projects include Freshplace, a collaboration with Chrysalis Center and Foodshare. Freshplace is an innovative food pantry in Hartford that will offer wrap-around social services. We also developed a Backpack Program at Hatford’s Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School. The program provides non-perishable, vitamin-fortified foods for up to 35 children and their families each weekend. We also provide volunteer support for community projects and events, promote healthy eating through the Junior League’s Kids In The Kitchen initiative, and serve meals monthly at the Loaves and Fishes center in Hartford.
Major Fundraiser: The Junior League has two major fundraisers. The first is our resale shop, The Clothes Horse, located at 175 Park Road in West Hartford. For over 60 years, the shop has offered quality used clothing and household items to the community at affordable prices, while raising funds to support the League. The second fundraiser is our Decorator Show House. Once every three years, we take over a unique home or estate in the Greater Hartford area. We select regional designers to decorate the interior and grounds and sell tickets to the public for viewing the redecorated home. The JLH has held 10 Show Houses, the most recent of which was May 2009, and has raised more than $1.25 million for our programs and projects.
Volunteer Needs: Please visit our website, www.jlhartford.org, to learn how to become a member of the Junior League of Hartford.
Leadership:
President: Laura A. Bellotti
President-Elect: Carolyn Hoffman
Secretary: Tiffany Stevens
Treasurer: Susan King
Contact Information:
Junior League of Hartford Inc.
993 Farmington Ave., West Hartford, CT 06107
860-233-4300
www.jlhartford.org
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Laura Bellotti is president of the Junior League of Hartford Inc.
