Benefit Day a chance for town to help itself out

Money raised goes into fund to help underserved residents

By Owen Boss

WESTMINSTER — Residents celebrated 21 years of “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” Sunday at a town benefit aimed at raising money for underserved members of the community. Westminster’s annual Benefit Day was started when resident Pete Giammalvo suffered a spinal cord injury in a diving accident in 1987 and friends and family held a benefit in his honor. Since then the event has grown and is now used to infuse with money a fund that has spent more than $212,000 for residents who need help through difficult times in their lives. According to committee member Tammy Dwelly, the event has grown significantly since it originated 21 years ago, but it is still rooted in helping others in their community. “We have been fortunate enough to now actually have a fund in place,” said Ms. Dwelly. “And that money is available to us all year round, but the only people who can request money from that fund have to be Westminster residents.” Although the town has a relatively small population, Ms. Dwelly said they are able to raise a lot of money because the community really enjoys and supports the annual event. “This is about putting something nice on for the community while raising money at the same time,” said Ms. Dwelly. “It is very family-oriented and we have a huge turnout every single year. We are so fortunate to have such a great community.” Events at the benefit included live musical performances, face painting, a memory tent, a farmers market, a dunk tank, raffles, a Chinese auction and various carnival games, all of which committee member and Police Chief Sam Albert said were to benefit the town. “There entire event is to benefit our town’s fund and people in need can come and access the money,” said Mr. Albert. “It is usually fuel assistance, the last couple of years with heating oil going up it’s important to have this funding.” Mr. Albert said the event attracts a lot of town officials, many of whom are involved in coordinating the event in one way or another. “A lot of the selectman come and people on the Advisory Board we are all here and everyone pitches in,” said Mr. Albert. “Whether they are working a booth or the just show up, pretty much everyone is here.” Joyce Holroyd-McGuire, who coordinated the benefit’s farmers market, said it takes the entire community to put together an event like this. “Everything you see on our stand has been donated from all different people in town. This is the third year we have offered a farmers market and it has been a major success,” said Ms. Holroyd-McGuire. “All of our money goes to help the families 100 percent.” Although she is involved with the benefit, Ms. Holroyd-McGuire said it was the hard work of committee members that made it all possible. “People don’t realize that our committee members work on this all year,” said Ms. Holroyd-McGuire. “People don’t realize how much hard work they put in behind the scenes. It truly is amazing the number of hours they put into organizing this.” oboss@thegardnernews.com

Appeared on Page 1 on 8/11/2008 (Vol. 206 No. 189)