By: Leominster Champion, February 11, 2021
Pictured with the donation are from left, WCSO Staff Officer John Travaglio and Fitchburg Program Director Mark O’Leary, Women’s Recovery Program Clinical Director Cathy Foulkrod-Pickett and Administrator Angel Bodziak, Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis, WCSO Community Outreach Specialist Danny Blute, Harvard Pilgrim Senior Project Manager Bridget Cyr and WCSO Officer Shaun Mullaney.
Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis paid a special visit in December to Catholic Charities Women’s Recovery Program at 196 Mechanic St. in Leominster to donate and deliver brand new winter jackets, protective masks, and warm socks as part of the Sheriff’s Office Annual Winter Coat Drive.
The Sheriff’s Office works closely assisting individuals in the recovery community and was happy to provide the donation to the women’s recovery center.
“Our office works tirelessly to assist individuals in their recovery process,” Evangelidis said. “We have a community corrections center located in Fitchburg that provides caring and comprehensive recovery support for Leominster and the surrounding communities. We know first-hand the great work Angelique and her team does here to assist women in overcoming their addiction. It is vitally important to have these life-saving services and residential facilities available to women during their recovery process. With our donation of brand new winter jackets and warm socks we are happy to help them in this small way.”
“Thank you to Sheriff Evangelidis and his team, they have provided support and been with us since day one of the opening of our center. All of these beautiful coats and warm socks will help make a difference this winter. The women in our program are so appreciative,” said Angel Bodziak, administrator of the Women’s Recovery Program.
This year, because of the concerns and constraints of COVID-19, pre-owned coat donations could not be collected for the Sheriff’s Annual Winter Coat Drive. Instead, the Sheriff’s Department through community grants and generous donations purchased more than 3,000 brand new winter jackets which were distributed to charitable organizations throughout Worcester County.
In addition to the Leominster stop, Evangelidis also made deliveries of winter jackets, warm socks and protective masks to Restoration Recovery Center and Our Father’s House of Fitchburg and Alyssa’s Place in Gardner.
“It has been a challenging year for so many,” Evangelidis said. “With the donation of these beautiful winter jackets and warm socks we are happy to help so many charitable organizations in this way.”
