Foundation News

During its heyday in the West River Valley, the Count Your Blessings Senior Group numbered over 40 members, who gathered together periodically for pot-luck meals and trips. Founded in the 1970’s, the ad-hoc group was made up of people who “just wanted to have a good time,” recalled Janice Cominoli of Townshend. At a luncheon in August at Riverbend Bar and Grill, the eight remaining members decided to disband, and to donate their final treasury to Grace Cottage Hospital.

“Not only was I speechless, but I got tears in my eyes when I opened the envelope from Count Your Blessings at Janice’s home, and there was $350,” recalled Andrea Seaton, Executive Director of Grace Cottage Foundation. “They’d collected this amount during years of raffles and pot-lucks, accepting donations of one dollar here and one dollar there. I was struck by the magnitude of this contribution, and the poignancy of the fact that the group had decided to discontinue.”

The donation, agreed to by Count Your Blessings members Gladys Bruce, Gladys Brown, Fran Grout, Mae Ella Wheeler, Lucy Williams, Aldene Turner, and Janice Cominoli, was made in memory of deceased members of the group. A commemorative plaque will be mounted in the entrance to Grace Cottage Hospital.