By Brenda Maguire
Correspondent
NEW BRITAIN — Two summers ago, Mack Stewart, founder of Warm the Children, took his friend’s two grandsons, who were visiting from Switzerland, fishing.
The fishing trip had been a success for the two boys, both of whom caught fish, one catching a sizable striper. But the trip was not only a success for those two children.
Stewart and his friend’s daughter-in-law, Edith Thouin, had spoken about the Warm the Children campaign while she was visiting and she felt it was a great program that she wanted to contribute to from Switzerland.
“Just out of the clear blue last winter, I got a check from Edith,” Stewart said.
In the first two weeks of the Warm the Children Campaign, $19,000 has been raised. In addition to the donation coming from Switzerland, there was one from San Francisco sent to New Britain as well.
Bob McGrath, who graduated from Notre Dame University with Stewart in 1955, and his wife, Joan, have been donating to Warm the Children for about ten years to help support their friend’s effort to provide clothing to children from low-income families in the winter.
“A little while back Bob heard about our work with Warm the Children and they decided to give their support,” Stewart said. “We’re very grateful for that.”
This year, $5,000 of McGrath’s donation was given to New Britain’s campaign, while the rest was dispersed to other campaigns.
“I try to determine which programs have the biggest need and I think between funds available and number of children who need service that New Britain had the biggest need,” Stewart said.
The goal of the campaign is to raise $40,000, which will provide clothing for at least 800 children.
Donations can be submitted, along with the volunteer shopper form, to Warm the Children, 1 Court St., New Britain, CT 06051.
Brenda Pantano 