Interact Club members enjoying their pizza party, al fresco.
Brayden Cutler, right, and Putnam Rotary President Kristen Willis with the trophy.
The day was a bit on the "cool" side but that did nothing to dampen the excitement of the Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club Annual Bell Ringing Pizza Party held in the Farmers’ Market pavilion in Putnam.
Interact President Brayden Cutler thanked all who took part.
Despite COVID, the club raised $9,774.86 for the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign, beating last year’s total of $8,727 by more than $1,000.
Some 115 volunteers and 11 Interact Club members made it happen. Schools represented include: The Woodstock Academy, Killingly High School, Putnam High School, Tourtellotte Memorial High School, Plainfield High School, Ashford School and UConn.
Boy Scout Troops 21 and 25 also took part.
Salvation Army Director, Kathleen Orfitelli, thanked everyone for the Kettle Campaign success and said, "Because of your efforts, the Salvation Army will be able to assist 20 families locally."
Putnam Rotary President Kristen Willis thanked the volunteers and announced the winners of the bell ringing competition.
School with most hours: Woodstock Academy won the “Most Hours” prize with 74 hours, followed by Killingly High School with 73 and Putnam High School with 69 hours.
Award-winning students: third-place, Sophia Griffin (KHS), 8 hours; second-place, Kaylee Goding (PHS), 9 hours; and the trophy winner: Brayden Cutler and Katie Lamontagne, 9.5 hours.
The Putnam Interact Club has been organizing the bell-ringing effort since 1997.
For more information about the Interact club and their next
meeting contact Roberta Rocchetti 860-933-8603 or robertarocchetti4@gmail.com
Rousing Success
The Putnam Rotary’s Interact Club and bell ringing volunteers beat last year’s total for its Salvation Army kettle bell ringing fund-raiser. This year generous donations helped the grand total hit $9,774, exceeding 2019’s total of $8,727!
"It wouldn't have been possible without the bell ringer volunteers," said Roberta Rocchetti, Putnam Rotary’s Interact advisor. "This year we had more schools and civic organizations volunteering making this a real community effort."
Rocchetti also thanked the Dec 19 bell ringers: Kaylee Goding (Putnam High) and from Killingly High: Dedrick Bauble, Madelyn Sumner, Sarah Roberts, Lillian Stockford, Jordan Rukstela, Cal Barber, Evelyn Allen, Amaya West, Kaleb Watson, Abe Antonelli, Laney Dunn, Sophie and Annie Griffin, Abby Card, and Shelby Bellows.
Captions, (from left)
Photo 1: Evelyn Allen and Cal Barber
Photo 2: Abby Card, Sophie Griffin and Shelby Bellows
The Putnam Rotary Interact Club thanks all the volunteers who braved the torrential rain and sleet to bell ring on Saturday December 5th. Please look for our volunteers Saturday Dec 12th & 19th at Putnam Supermarket, Price Chopper, WINY Radio and Walmart. All donations to our Salvation Army kettles stay local to assist the needy in the Northeast corner. 
Thank you to : Eliza Dutson, Olivia Ott, Sarah Tavares, Alexandra Vaida, Magdalena & Mathew Myslenski, Alexandra and Alyssa Thompson from Woodstock Academy and Dick Loomis & grandchildren (Max, Livi & Maya Gerum) Putnam.
Putnam Interact raises $3,000 in first week of Kettle Campaign
The Putnam Salvation Army Kettle Campaign is off to a great start with over $3,000 raised Nov. 27 and 28.
And the collection continues … Look for the Red Kettles Dec. 5, 12 and 19 at Putnam Supermarket, Price Chopper, Putnam Walmart and WINY Radio.
Volunteers last weekend included: Alexia Bourbeau (UConn); Woodstock Academy: Ryann Bourbeau, Alexia Adams, Olivia Ott, Suzanne Silbermann, Talia and Kaelyn Tremblay, Maddie Silbermann; Putnam High: Kaylee Goding, Jacob Tremblay, Spencer Northrup, Melodie Anderson, Lily Goyette, Alishia Thompson, Cheyanne Debold, Abby and Emily St. Martin, Amy Vongvirath, Allyson Dinola; from Killingly High: Grace Benoit and Emily Benoit; Josephine Spalding, Emma Braithwaite Laylah, Amayah & Zay Chavez, Vincent Young, Abigail Fitts, Bailey Touchette; from Tourtelotte; Brayden Cutler, Katie Lamontagne, Makayla Tackson.
Rotaract volunteers included: Samantha Guilmette, Amanda Masztal, Emily and Heather Barnes, Kevin Davis, Douglas Henry, Elle Goslin; From Putnam Rotary: Pam Brown, Barry Shead, Joseph Adiletta, Jonathan Tremblay (also Michael and Leo Rocchetti of Putnam)
More volunteers: Ashford School: Lynn and Morgan Fontaine, Jason and Journey Horn, Gina, Ann and Henry Burnham, Mandi Courtois Melissa McDonough and Bella McDonough (EO Smith); from Creation Church: Pastor Bernie Norman, Bryan Finn, Bob and Cheryl Darling.
Photo captions:
Alexia and Ryann Bourbeau
Bella & Melissa McDonough
Brayden Cutler and Katie Lamontagne
Elle Goslin & Kevin Davis
Emma Braithwaite & Laylah Chavez
The Tremblay family
Saturday December 12 was another rainy day, but that didn't stop the generous donations made to the Salvation Army. The Putnam Rotary Interact Club would like to thank volunteers; Braden Cutler, Katie Lamontagne (Tourtellote), Kaylee Goding, Amayah Chavez, Thomas Heydecker, Cody Keene (PHS), Alexandra & Alyssa Thompson, Maddie & Suzanne Silberman, Alexia Adams, Ava Hovestadt, Alexandra Mattioli, Maeve & Callum Lusignan (Woodstock Academy), RG Smith, Taric Torrey (KHS), Austin Smith (Plainfield High), Suzette Lafevre (Pomfret), the Ketola family (Putnam), Jordan Trabisno, Scoutmaster Corina Estell and volunteers from BS troop 25, Jacob Galus, Lincoln & Sam Jackel, Scoutmaster John Ryan and volunteers from BS troop 21. Saturday December 19th is the last day of the Kettle Campaign. Look for us at Putnam Supermarket, Price Chopper, Walmart and WINY radio parking lot from 9am - 5pm. For more information about the Interact club contact Roberta Rocchetti 860 933 8603.
Bells will be ringing … for the Salvation Army!
PUTNAM --- Since 1997 the Putnam Rotary Interact Club has coordinated bell-ringing efforts for the Salvation Army Kettle campaign. They’ve helped raise more than $200,000 total.
Despite COVID-19, this year is no different.
This year the kettles will be located outside of Putnam Price Chopper, Putnam Supermarket, Walmart and the WINY Radio parking lot.
Collections will be made from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 27, Nov. 28, Dec. 5, Dec. 12 and Dec. 19.
All volunteers will be wearing masks and will be 6 feet from the kettle. The kettles will be sanitized throughout the day.
This year, Walmart has three ways of giving to the Salvation Army: At the register, buying an item listed on the store’s Giving Tree or depositing money in the kettle.
Donations at WINY Radio’s parking lot are drive-thru. Volunteers will hold out collection baskets.
The money collected in the kettles stays locally, assisting Daily Bread, TEEG and other charitable groups that assist the needy.
The Putnam Rotary Interact Club and the Salvation Army thanked all those who volunteer as bell ringers. For more information please contact Roberta Rocchetti at 860- 933-8603.
