by DAN KELLY

We're getting ready for tonight's Jefferson-Jackson-Bailey Dinner, one of the biggest Democratic party events.  For those of you who have been to these before, you know the typical campaign drills – volunteers with signs, chants and cheers, tschotskys and give-aways,  – it’s some good ole’ fashioned campaign fun.  (We’ve got a good group of supporters that will be helping out with that - there’s still time to join them – contact Matt [matt at danmalloy dot com] for more info).

I love picking up those tschotskys as much as the next person, but when we started our conversations about what our campaign would do at the JJB dinner,  we decided to try something different.

Why did we think that’s important? We all know that Connecticut is facing its worst fiscal crisis in more than a decade. One of the most pressing problems is that local non-profits have seen a severe downturn in the funding they receive that allows them to do what they do: help people in need. Long story short – at a time when so many people need help, the groups that are trying to help facing tough times and funding shortfalls.  Dan talked about this problem here.

So what are we doing exactly? We’re skipping the tschotsky this year and in its place, we’re organizing a small fundraising drive in its place.  “Coins for Change,” as we’re calling it, will help raise money for the Connecticut Food Bank, a Connecticut non-profit that Dan supports.  We’ll be talking to folks at the dinner about helping out and collecting change at our campaign’s table at the Jefferson-Jackson-Bailey Dinner.

Here’s how you can help.

1.      If you are going to the JJB and can bring along any change, we’d love to get this over to the folks at the Connecticut Food Bank. Just look for our table and make any donation hat you are comfortable with. 100% of these funds will be delivered to the Connecticut Food Bank.

2.      If you’re not going to the dinner, you can still help. You  can either drop off some change at the Stamford campaign office or drop Matt (matt at danmalloy dot com) to work out a donation.

We hope that we can make a difference in someone’s lives by doing this, and that the good folks at the Connecticut Food Bank will be able to do more good work for those in need.