Housatonic Habitat for Humanity will host a cozy evening at its ReStore in the Danbury Fair Mall Tuesday, November 1st from 5 to 8pm to kick off the holiday season and shop for upcycled holiday treasure. Making the evening even more magical is Habitat's collaboration with the nonprofit dance school, Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance, and the NAHL Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks!
On November 1, Mall passersby and Habitat for Humanity Re-store guests will experience the magic of the holiday season come to life thanks to Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance dancers who will light up the Re-Store windows as Nutcracker mannequins!
“Habitat for Humanity is an organization I have known about for a long time, and we are lucky to team up with their Danbury Mall’s ReStore to spread some holiday cheer and bring awareness to the mission to build homes, community, and hope,” says Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance Executive Director, Amy Piantaggini.
The partnership blossomed thanks to Housatonic Habitat for Humanity volunteer Hillary Aronow who told Diana Arfine, the nonprofit’s Executive Director about Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance. Aronow is RCD’s President and knows firsthand how the nonprofit dance studio fosters community outreach and collaboration.
“We were in the midst of planning our holiday event and I immediately thought of their Nutcracker mannequins during the holiday stroll in Ridgefield -- truly one of my favorite parts of this magical event each year. I reached out to Amy, who was receptive to the idea of the dancers "performing" for our holiday preview event. It worked well, since our ReStore at the Mall location has nice big windows for the dancers!” says Arfine.
Making the partnership even sweeter? Preparing for an event as grand as Re-store’s holiday shopping fundraiser takes many hands and they’ve got some strong ones doing the heavy lifting!
Remember that ballet class NAHL Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks hockey players took at Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance? “A few team members were looking to volunteer in the community,” says Piantaggini. She immediately thought of Habitat for Humanity. Arfine chimes in, “Amy suggested we also work with the NAHL Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks hockey players and voila! A partnership was formed!”
The hockey players are aged 16 -20 years old and come from different backgrounds, states and in some cases different countries. “Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks make it a point to be an active part of the Danbury community. The players are excited to be part of the Housatonic Habitat for Humanity’s holiday upcycle event,” says team volunteer, Kristi Jacobsma. “The hockey players will help prepare for the event by doing some heavy lifting and putting their holiday spirit into ReStore displays.”
All proceeds from the holiday shopping fundraiser on November 1 will support the work Housatonic Habitat for Humanity is doing in the community including their “Brush With Kindness” program that provides free home repairs to veterans and senior citizens on low or fixed incomes.
Stop by Re-Store in the Danbury Fair Mall and bedazzled on November 1 while supporting this wonderful community collaboration and the great work of Housatonic Habitat for Humanity!
To learn more about the event read about it HERE or visit Housatonic Habitat for Humanity at www.housatonichabitat.org.
Purchase tickets ($15) HERE.
The holiday partnerships continue with Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance who will perform The Greatest Showman alongside Sphere members on November 6 at The Ridgefield Playhouse. They will also be part of Ridgefield’s Holiday Stroll on Friday evening, December 2 by posing as Nutcracker mannequins.