Newtowner's Act of Kindness Brings Holiday Meals to Families

When Newtown resident Howard Lasher heard First Selectman Pat Llodra ask residents to perform acts of kindness for each other, he took it seriously.

So he decided to donate 26 Christmas dinners to the Newtown families who needed it most. And on Christmas Eve, he watched as families arrived to pick up their holiday meals at Stew Leonard's in Danbury.

"I'm a firm believer in the old Winston Churchill saying: 'You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give,'" he said Tuesday as Stew Leonard's employees rolled racks of food out of the kitchen for families — turkeys, roasts, hams, pies, soup and nuts.

Lasher contacted Ann Benore of Newtown Social Services, who helped him turn his vision into reality. Benore said Christmas can be a tough time of year for some Newtowners — although some may not realize it, poverty can affect those in Newtown too.

"We probably had the most [needy families] in a while this year," she said.

Newtown Social Services helped donate toys and other gifts to 83 local families this year, working with the Newtown Fund.

"I just hope these families enjoy Christmas," Lasher said. "Maybe it'll be a little bit merrier now ... If we can put a smile on their faces, it's all worth it."

Lasher, a former Wall Street trader, has lived in Newtown for 31 years. Even if residents don't know him, they likely recognize the iconic American flag trees that grace his property. (Lasher hosts a morning vigil in front of the trees every year on Sept. 11 to honor his colleagues who lost their lives in the attacks.)

"While there are a lot of evil things said about Wall Street, some of the most philanthropic people come from there," he said.

Lasher grew up in a small apartment in New York's Lower East Side, and says he's tried to give back as much as possible since his retirement.

"Tzedakah is the Hebrew word for charity," he said. "It starts in the heart and comes out in the wallet. And after what we in Newtown endured, I'm honored to be able to help."