Connection, Naloxone, and Building a Stronger Community
Social connection is crucial to our well-being and survival. If you are looking for ways to connect, or to fight the winter blues and the impulse to hibernate (or hide) all season, we’ve got some ideas for you to consider for your own health and happiness. You can…
Hi Neighbors! Thanks for stopping by.
We hope the postcard we sent out resonated with you. Read on for helpful tips to get through winter, and find information about Naloxone, how to quit vaping, and other local resources for residents…
Did you know that being socially connected to others is a basic human need?
Social connection is crucial to our well-being and survival. If you are looking for ways to connect, or to fight the winter blues and the impulse to hibernate (or hide) all season, we’ve got some ideas for you to consider for your own health and happiness. You can…
Spark joy for others with a Random Act of Kindness, or you can serve your neighbors through our nonprofit partners and in a variety of locations, or cheer them up with a Flower Power session
Attend an author talk, toddler or baby story time, or join a book club at the Easton Public Library
Start a new hobby by taking a free class online with a neighbor, or reconnect with an old hobby that you once loved like nature photography or knitting with folks at the Easton Senior Center
Plan a game or activity night with friends, start a supper club with fellow foodies and farm-to-table aficionados, join the local Easton/Redding backgammon club, or plan an Easton block party with neighbors for the warmer months
Nurture youth by applying for a job at the Easton Community Center or signing them up for a youth torch club or team at The Boys & Girls Club of Redding-Easton
Adopt a pet from the Easton Animal Shelter and meet your new best friend, then connect with other dog lovers at the local dog park
Go hiking or snowshoeing with other adventurers in Easton or nearby
Get active and join a cornhole team, local gym, or enjoy a parents night out
Participate in a support group for young adults or LGBTQ+ families, join Easton Pride’s planning committee, or sign up to get “Sunshine Texts” and uplifting messages
Join us as a volunteer or Youth Ambassador for your middle or high school, and lead a health committee or prevention effort that you are passionate about! Reach out at: dsimonelli@eastonct.gov and info@eastonsheretohelp.org.
Learn More About Narcan (Naloxone) Nasal Spray
We touched on this life-saving tool in our postcard, and we hope you’ll watch this informative and step-by-step video below to get a better understanding of how and when to use it. Remember that anyone can carry Naloxone, give it to someone experiencing an overdose, and potentially save a life. Naloxone is available at most pharmacies, and members of the public may want to consider adding it to their first aid kit.
Get Resources and Support for CT Residents
Help Us Build a Stronger Community
Easton residents can attend online training opportunities available from our partners at The Hub, or send us an email with your requests or ideas for an in-person training session, presentation or speaker. We’re interested in your feedback, involvement, and collaboration planning the prevention programming for this year and beyond.
If you are looking for other information such as mental health services in Fairfield County, you’ll find that here along with immediate support phone numbers. Stay safe this winter with our winter weather preparedness tips, and if you are a senior resident looking for opportunities to connect with others or get our monthly department updates, visit the links to learn more. Feel free to reach out with your specific needs at 203-268-1137 as we are here to help.
Wishing our friends and neighbors a healthy and happy 2024, and remember that you belong here and you matter!
Dan Simonelli & Sarah Lehberger
Student Ambassadors Wanted
Middle and High Schoolers Encouraged to Apply
Easton’s Here to Help (EHTH) is a coalition working to promote the health and well-being of our youth and families through prevention, education, and collaboration with a goal of decreasing substance misuse and mental health disorders. We currently have openings for Student Ambassadors in 2024 and beyond!
This is a great resume builder for college applications, and especially for students going into a health, science, law, education, media, or policy related career in the future! Student Ambassadors play an important role in our mission by sharing your lived experiences, unique perspectives and ideas, and helping us shape how we can educate, empower and engage your peers or the youth and families in the community.
Easton’s Here to Help meets every other month via Zoom, but we want to work around your schedule and offer you the opportunity to give us valuable feedback. As a Student Ambassador and representative of your school, you’d work in collaboration with us to bring a health related speaker, event, training, or skill building workshop to the Easton and Redding community. There will also be the opportunity to assist with multimedia and design for those who would like to showcase their creative talents making videos, flyers, or social media graphics.
Student leaders will receive mentorship, support, and guidance from us and school administrators. Learn more about EHTH by checking out the rest of our website. If you are interested, please reach out to Dan Simonelli (Social Services Coordinator for the Town of Easton at dsimonelli@eastonct.gov to share why this role and our mission is important to you or why you’d be a good match for our coalition. We will be selecting 2-3 individuals for 2024, and they are welcome to stay on board for 2025.
Examples of how you could serve in this leadership role, and the choice is up to you:
Design a postcard that will get mailed to households using Canva’s design tools
Act as the liaison between school administrators, DARE reps, Safe Rides Team Leaders, Mental Health First Aid and/or Health Clubs, and the school’s SRO on EHTH initiatives
Attend up to 2 lower school events (ex: Spaghetti Dinner, Open House, or DARE Race) as a representative of EHTH and provide resources, flyers, or pamphlets to students and families looking for information and positive role models for their younger students
Create social media graphics that are: educational, fact or research based, inclusive, empathetic, encouraging, and inspirational (see our Instagram account for examples)
Film or create short video clips around the town of Easton and collaborate on ways to tie them into substance or mental health prevention messages (ex: encouraging messages from students, government or town leaders, mentors, coaches, etc.)
Promote EHTH events such as our upcoming speakers or presentations in your school’s announcements or newspaper, the Patch or Easton Courier, social media, etc.
Volunteer with our local partners to run a food drive, assist with collecting farm or garden fresh food during the summer for “Grow a Row”, and more
We hope you’ll join us, and thank you for your interest in supporting our important efforts!
Sarah Lehberger & Dan Simonelli
Co-Chairs of Easton’s Here to Help