Community Helping St. Francis Hall Rebuild

Several fundraisers are being organized to help repair Donahue Hall at , which was seriously damaged after six inches of rain dumped on Naugatuck in a matter of a couple hours during a

The hall took on some seven feet of murky water, and water damaged everything it touched, including a piano, furniture, documents and several other items, according to church officials.

“The rebuild will take months to make sure affected walls and floors are dry and safe and all equipment is replaced,” the church’s website states. “Even with insurance, the out-of-pocked costs of this devastation will be significant.”

A message to parishioners

The Rev. John Kuzhikottayil wrote these inspirational words in a letter to the parish members following the storm:

"It is a moment when God is testing our fait and our confidence in his providence. Our church hall may be ruined, but St. Francis of Assisi parish is not ruined. We have no lost "everything." No! We have each one of you and our entire parish family near and far together at this time of crisis. It is a moment for each one of us to say, “YES! WE CAN!” We shall pass on to our children a better place to worship and grow in faith.”

How to Help

• To donate, send checks or cash to St. Francis Church, 318 Church St., Naugatuck, CT 06770. It should be made attention to the St. Francis Donahue Hall Relief Fund.

• A Ziti Dinner fundraiser will be held at Triple Play Sports Bar and Grille, 16 Straits Turnpike, Watertown, on Monday, Sept. 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. This is a family fun night. Enjoy an Italian dinner after work or school functions. There will be ziti, meatballs, salad, Italian bread, and a donated Friendly's Ice Cream Cake. The Friendly's Ice Cream Cake was donated by Patricia at Friendly's Restaurant in Naugatuck. Also, local businesses are donating items for a silent auction. Lastly, Andrea Paquin and John McGrath will be providing live musical entertainment. Tickets can be purchased at the door the night of the event.

• The Naugatuck Portuguese Club is organizing a Pasta Dinner fundraiser on Friday, Oct. 5, 2012 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  Ticket price is $10 for adults; $5 for children 5-12 years old.  For tickets call Frances Branco 203.729.1211; Fran Areias 203.723.0278; or Margie Neary 203.723.1626. That event is also on Facebook here.