HARTFORD, Conn — As the year ends, it’s time to take a look back at some of our stories of people doing good in communities across our state that touched our heart this year.
Starting in January, we saw students making an impact in a big way to help one of their own, young people at Haddam-Killingworth High School raising thousands for Rachel Webster, a fellow fifth grader who is fighting cancer.
Her mom, Katherine Webster said, “it has been really incredible just to see how many people care about Rachel and just the amount of people we have around our family to support us.”
And the students at Thomas Hooker Elementary in Meriden rallied behind a classmate with special needs after his big bingo win.
“As a mother this is more than I could have asked for as for as this community as a school and how they rallied around my son,” said Desiree Riley.
For Valentine’s Day, we celebrated seniors in New Haven.
There was our annual FOX61 World Down Syndrome Day block party that returned in March.
This year we also welcomed a Hartford family home – our team helping with a Habitat for Humanity build in the capital city.
This spring we celebrated cancer survivors at the YMCA.
And we were there on the morning show when penguins from the Mystic Aquarium donated their art – hoping to share smiles to kids facing challenges.
in June we were reunited with Mystic – when the service dog we’re sponsoring as a station made the hall of fame at Mystic Pizza – right next to Julia Roberts.
Back to school was all about books – when we surprised deserving teachers with additions to their class libraries.
December meant making an impact for the holidays- more than 100 students of all abilities were invited to shine at the Gengras Center holiday show in Hartford.
And we explored the gingerbread village in Middlebury where volunteers at St. George’s Episcopal Church have raised more than half a million dollars for good over the last 55 years.
We’re able to do what we do because of so many of you at home who reach out with stories of hope and inspiration. If you know someone who is making an impact in your community. Let’s connect on social media.
Keith McGilvery is an anchor and reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at kmcgilvery@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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