Justice’s Community Leadership Award
Binky Patrol was chosen as one of 2 groups to receive the Center for Family Justice’s Community Leadership Award at their annual meeting on June 25th.
We have amazing news to tell you! Binky Patrol was chosen as one of 2 groups to receive the Center for Family Justice’s Community Leadership Award at their annual meeting on June 25th.
We are both honored and excited to receive this award. This award is for all of our amazing volunteers. Whether you have made one or 100 blankets for us, bought materials so others can, or made us aware of hurting kids, you have made an impact on the lives of children. Thank you for truly comforting kids when they need it most.
For the past five years, clients of The Center for Family Justice has been the recipients of multiple acts of generosity from the students and faculty of Trumbull’s Madison Middle School and the Trumbull-based Binky Patrol, a nonprofit that provides handmade, cozy blankets to children in need.
Under the direction of Madison Middle School language arts teacher Jeanne Malgioglio and her friend, Joanne Zimmerman, the Binky Patrol has provided blankets to CFJ’s Camp HOPE America-Connecticut campers and beginning this year, purple shawls for our female clients. Five years ago, student members of Madison’s KARE club, led by faculty advisors Jeanne Malgioglio and Nancy Yarmosh, began making Binky Patrol blankets as part of an annual “binkathon.”
The relationship between CFJ and the school grew as the KARE Club began adopting our clients as beneficiaries. Soon, with the support of school Principal Peter Sullivan, Madison Middle’ School’s faculty got involved. Their collective acts of kindness have included stuffing holiday-themed bags with pajamas, books and Binky Patrol blankets for clients living in our Kathie’s Place safe house on special occasions including Christmas, Halloween and Valentine’s Day. This year, Madison’s faculty pitched in to adopt 14 client children at the holidays, providing them with gifts to celebrate the season.
This collaborative and ongoing generosity shown by the Madison Middle School community and the Binky Patrol has earned them the owner of being CFJ’s 2019 Community Outreach Award Winner.