News & Events
Spring cleaning? Consider donating items to a shelter or nonprofit that can give it a second life
Fox 61 - As some Connecticut residents begin spring cleaning, they may be looking for a place to take their old belongings. The Community Renewal Team (CRT) is among the shelters and organizations happy to give used items a second life.
TVCCA celebrates 60 years of helping eastern Connecticut families
The Bulletin - More than 100 people gathered recently to celebrate the Thames Valley Council for Community Action's 60 years of service in eastern Connecticut, according to a community announcement. State legislators, partner agencies and municipal representatives praised the organization's commitment to providing a wide variety of services to those in need, including housing and homelessness prevention, energy assistance, early childhood education, employment assistance, senior nutrition, WIC and family support programs, according to the announcement.
TVCCA CEO Joins Greater Mystic Community Conversations
Youtube - Thames Valley Council for Community Action (TVCCA) CEO Josh Kelly recently joined the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce’s Community Conversations series. During the discussion, Josh highlighted TVCCA’s key focus areas, shared updates on current initiatives, and discussed what’s ahead for the organization.
Norwich church sells building to TVCCA, expanding homeless shelter
The Bulletin - The St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church building, which includes the sanctuary and community rooms, is under contract by the Thames Valley Council for Community Action.
Opinion: Community health workers deserve their promised reimbursement
CT Mirror - The General Assembly made a fundamental commitment to the health of Connecticut families in 2023, enacting legislation requiring the state to reimburse for services provided by community health workers to Medicaid enrollees. Yet, more than two years later, Connecticut’s Medicaid program still does not cover community health worker services.
Delivery drivers push through lingering road conditions to bring meals to Hartford seniors
Fox 61 - Snow cleanup efforts continue across Hartford and the surrounding areas days after a major winter storm, and while some streets remain difficult to navigate, staying off them is not an option for essential workers. Delivery drivers with the Community Renewal Team’s Meals on Wheels program are still hitting the road to make sure seniors and others in need receive food, even as slushy streets, snow piles and icy intersections slow down travel.
Meriden approves $30,000 to fill a gap for the warming shelter helping unhoused residents
The New Haven Register - The city will be contributing $30,000 to help operate an overnight warming center at the Women and Family Center on Colony Street, run by United Way, though officials questioned if the city should be giving money to a nonprofit for this.
Norwich Cold Weather shelter to be ready soon. Here’s where it stands
Norwich Bulliten - As the weather gets colder, the Norwich cold weather shelter will soon be ready for service again. The shelter, with capacity for 16, will soon reopen at 307 Main St. As of the morning of Dec. 5, the Thames Valley Council for Community Action and the City of Norwich just need to sign a lease and the shelter should open that weekend, TVCCA CEO Josh Kelly said.
Hello Connecticut: CRT Toy Drive
WFSB 3 - Community Renewal Team's (CRT) Development and Marketing Director, Elana Bernstein, joined the Hello Connecticut segment on Fox 61 to discuss CRT's Toy drive CRT will be accepting Toy donations until December 12, 2025.
Norwich Public Utilities’ discount saved $370K on electric bills this year
The Bulletin - Norwich Public Utilities' Community Assistance Rate program has saved customers an aggregate of $370,418 on their electric bills over the past 12 months. The program is now in its second year. In 2025, 2,063 customers participated in the program, according to a community announcement. NPU is the first utility in Connecticut to offer a discount for qualified customers.