RECIPIENTS ENJOY CARE & SHARE CAMPERSHIPS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND DIAMOND
Summer this year for over 460 residents of the East Lyme/Niantic and Salem communities has meant days at camp, treasure hunts in the sand, and for one lucky individual, finding a $600-value diamond in the 7th annual Care & Share of East Lyme, Inc. Diamond Dig. While some 400+ hopefuls, such as the two optimistic youngsters shown in the accompanying photo, took their chances at the popular Care & Share East Lyme Day booth, just one individual, who chose to remain anonymous, came up with the real McCoy. 
Everyone, however, went home with a zircon diamond-look alike, so real looking that only Antonio Suarez, owner of Northern Light Gems, which donated the treasures, was able to identify the true stone. This was the fifth year that the zircons and diamond were donated to the benefit event by the Pennsylvania Ave., Niantic, jewelry store.
Thanks to the generous contributions of numerous area individual and business supporters, and by working in cooperation with the East Lyme Park and Recreation Department, a total of 60 area youngsters were able to enjoy various summer camp opportunities. Additionally, Care & Share provided college scholarship funds to six East Lyme/Niantic/Salem students, including new high school graduates just entering college as well as continuing undergraduate students.
Founded in 1989 as an all volunteer nonprofit organization, Care & Share of East Lyme provides food, financial and emergency support to individuals and families in East Lyme/Niantic and Salem. Programs include its year-round food pantry, located at 11 Hope St., Niantic, behind Niantic Cinemas, its Thanksgiving and Holiday food baskets and bread program, as well as its annual Holiday Store.
For further information on Care & Share of East Lyme, please call 860-739-8502 or visit www.careandshareofEL.org.
The 11th Annual Celebrate East Lyme will be held on Saturday, July 17 in downtown Niantic. There will be a Sand Castle Competition at McCook's Point Park from 9 to 11 in the morning. In the afternoon, a two-block section of Main Street will be closed for a street festival from 3 to 9 p.m. The celebration will end with a fantastic fireworks display over Niantic Bay, sponsored by 
