Several organizations benefit from Hannaford grants
By Angela Greiner, Contributing Writer

PHOTO/LOUIS DEFELIPPI Hannaford Supermarket celebrates its grand re-opening in Hudson by distributing grants to Hudson community organizations. Handing out the four $1,000 grants are (l to r) Molly Tarlton, Hannaford community relations, and Bob Page, Hannaford Hudson store manager. Receiving the grants are (l to r) Linda Ghiloni receiving for the Hudson Parks and Recreation Department; Jan Patterson for the Arts Alliance; Kathi Hart for the Hudson Community Food Pantry; and for the Hudson Education Foundation Grant are Tammy Ducey, Marianne Vergano-Laughton and Molly McCarley.

Hudson - As part of their reopening celebrations, Hannaford Supermarket in Hudson distributed four $1,000 grants to four nonprofit local organizations. Several community members as well as representatives from the grant recipients attended a small ceremony at the supermarket Aug. 31 where they received the grants.

"This is part of our commitment to the commu n i t y," said Molly Tarleton, a Han- naford's employee and representative.

The grants were part of the community relations programs planned for the re-opening.

"This is part of our ongoing commitment to the community," Tarleton said. "The goal is to fund programs that are dedicated to education, wellness, child development and families. The four organizations that we sponsored were the Hudson Education Foundation, the Hudson Community Food pantry, the Arts Alliance and the town of Hudson Parks and Recreation."

Linda Ghiloni, recreation director, said the money would be used toward any shortfalls in the South Street Park project, which is currently being completed.

Hannaford gave the Food Pantry 50 $20 gift cards. The pantry, which provides food and supplies to families in the community in need, will distribute the cards . With fall and winter approaching, the gift cards would be great for its emergency food supply, Tarleton said.

Hannaford is dedicated to education and annually participated in several yearround school fund-raising efforts. Members of the education foundation, along with high school special education teacher Molly McCarley, were pleased to be one of the organizations chosen by Hannaford's. The money will be used to fund the purchase of a four-person CD player, six individual CD players and headphones, several books and books with CDs. These tools will be used as part of a program that works to create a lifelong love for reading for students. This year 135 Special Education students will use the equipment and books and many more will do so over the next several years.

Some of the Arts Alliance's grant money will go towards the funding of 12 nine-week after-school programs. These programs, which will off er several different mediums of art education classes, will be available at four diff erent schools for elementary and middle school children. The rest of the money will go towards the River's Edge Players' fall production for high school students and adults.