This time of year, these groups are the ones standing between our neighbors and a really hard winter, keeping people fed, warm, and seen when it matters most. If you are in a position to help, even a little donation, a shared post, or a few hours of your time goes a long way toward backing the folks who quietly show up for the less fortunate all season long.

Cornerstone Foundation | Vernon / Rockville – Faith-based nonprofit providing emergency shelters, a soup kitchen, food pantry, clothing bank, and youth center for people in crisis in the Vernon–Rockville area.

Hockanum Valley Community Council (HVCC) | Vernon – Human services agency with a large food pantry, transportation, counseling, and other support programs serving residents of Vernon and the wider Tolland County area.

Hebron Interfaith Human Services (HIHS) | Hebron – Client-choice food pantry and assistance hub offering food, fuel help, holiday support, and other basic-needs services for Hebron and surrounding communities, including Tolland County residents.

Safe Net Ministries | Stafford Springs – 501(c)(3) food cupboard and “Flo’s Friendship Kitchen” meal program providing groceries and hot meals for residents of Stafford, Union, and nearby towns.

Access Community Action Agency | Eastern CT – Regional anti-poverty nonprofit offering housing support, energy assistance, food programs, and economic stability services for low-income residents of Windham and Tolland counties.

Food Pantries In Tolland County

Spend some time with your family, and if you can’t stand them, spend some time with your friends, and if you don’t have any friends, get to one of the events we post on here and make some!

Vernon | Festivus Holiday Party | 7-10pm - The Rocking Horse (57 Hartford Tpke) will be holding a Festivus celebration. Line dancing, drink specials, some light airing of grievances, and fun without the Christmas spin.

Bolton | Xmas Eve Service | 4-5pm - Saint George’s Episcopal Church (1150 Boston Tpke).

Hebron | Xmas Eve Service | 4pm - The Worship Center (99 Marjorie Circle).

Stafford Springs | Xmas Eve Service | 5pm - Stafford Springs Congregational Church (3 Main St).

Tolland | Xmas Pageant and Services | 6pm - There will be a Christmas pageant at 6pm, a family service at 8pm, and candlelight service at 11pm on the town green (45 Tolland Grn), hosted by United Congregational Church.

Vernon | Xmas Candlelight Service | 7pm - First Congregational Church (695 Hartford Tpke).

Vernon | Xmas Eve Service | 4:30-5:30pm - Trinity Lutheran Church (20 Meadowlark Rd).

Vernon | Xmas Eve Service | 5pm - St. John’s Episcopal Church (523 Hartford Tpke). Second service at 10:30pm.

Enjoy your holiday, and for all my Jewish friends out there, enjoy your Chinese food and movie!

Somers | Music Bingo | 6-8pm - Play along with a musical Bingo at Worthington Vineyards (359 Mountain Rd). It’s free to play, and you can get some delicious wine while you’re there.

Vernon | Dueling Pianos | 8pm $ - One of the most fun ways to experience live music is back at The Rocking Horse (57 Hartford Tpke). If you haven’t been to one of these yet, they are a blast! Tix

Vernon | Slow Power Flow Yoga | 9:30-10:30am $ - Get a little detox work in with a post-holiday yoga session at Sweet Lotus Yoga Studio (520 Hartford Tpke). Sign Up

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Joanna’s - Somers | The Willies | 6:30pm

Hebron | All Levels Yoga | 9:30-10:30am $ - Wise Warrior Yoga is holding a yoga class for beginners to advanced practitioners at Gilead Church (672 Gilead St). $15 for drop ins, better pricing for packages. Call/text Jen (860) 531-2217 to reserve your spot.

Stafford Springs | Yoga | 11am-12pm $ - Book a class with Heather at Let’s Get Wired (64 Main St), to shake off that holidaze you might be coming out of. Tix

Union | Lokasenna: Yule Market/Theatre Experience | 1-5:30pm $ - Experience a retelling of Norse tales featuring handmade wares, raffles, food and drink, photo ops with set piece, live music, and more at Taber Creek (1174 Buckley Hwy). Tix

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Blackledge Country Club - Hebron | Mike n Mark | 6:30-9:30pm
⬢ Rocking Horse - Vernon | Nightshift | 8-11pm
⬢ Bond 124 - Somers | Raya | 7:30-10:30pm
⬢ Four Seasons by the Lake - Stafford | The Brat Pack | 7-10pm

Columbia | NFAA Practice Shoot | 10am $ - Calling all competitive archers! Center Sports (3 Orlando Dr) is hosting two shooting times for competitive archers and mid-level shooters to test the waters. A second time at 1pm. $15/archer.

Coventry | Movie Matinee | 2pm - Get a dose of some of the golden age of Hollywood with a showing of After The Thin Man at Booth & Dimock Memorial Library (1100 Main St).

Vernon | Reiki I Certification | 8am-5pm $ - Learn what it takes to become a Reiki Practitioner at 54 Hartford Tpke. Text (860) 230-6087 or email [email protected] for details.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Joanna’s - Somers | Rockoustic HRU | 4-7pm
⬢ Four Seasons by the Lake - Stafford | Cold Train | 2-5:30pm $10

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