Holiday Scavenger Hunt to Benefit the Branford Counseling Center

Perhaps you’ve witnessed Nate Morrison, a 2012 Branford High School graduate, looking for clues around Branford. For fun, Morrison said he and his friends used to organize scavenger hunts for themselves around Branford when he was in high school. This holiday season, Morrison said he and his friends have decided to invite the public, in teams of four, to participate in the first-ever FPGG Holiday Scavenger Hunt and Toy Drive, Saturday, Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. on the Branford Green.

FPGG stands for “Fortunate People Give Gifts,” detailed Morrison and that’s exactly what he and his friends are hoping to do, with the help of the community. 

“We were sitting around,” explained Morrison, “and one person said he wanted to do charity work,” and that’s how the event got started.

Together, Morrison along with BHS 2012 graduates Jarrett Levesh, Sam Latham, Alex Altermatt, David Fisher, Joey Johnson, Austin Connell and Omar Hotak decided to create the scavenger hunt and collect one present per participant to be donated to the Branford Counseling Center. The Counseling Center matches more than 400 Branford children with gifts from community members every year. For more information on the program call the center at 203-481-4248.

Morrison detailed that they will be giving the collected gifts to Branford High School senior Andrew Klarman, who is also collecting gifts for the Branford Counseling Center as part of his BHS senior project. If you can’t make it to the scavenger hunt, you can donate unwrapped gifts for the Counseling Center through Klarman on Dec 18 when he collects them at his Branford High School basketball game, 7 p.m. or through Christopher Pantani on Dec. 9 when the second annual “Christmas Caddy” will be parked in front of Town Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“Branford just being such a generous town,” said Morrison, “our idea just kind of fit in.”

Morrison said the scavenger hunts he used to participate in with friends during high school were organized to pass time on a boring weekend – now he said they are excited to welcome the community to participate. He’s also hopeful that he and his friends can get other young people to give back this holiday season through the scavenger hunt. “We’re looking to get younger kids to participate,” said Morrison, but added that all people, young and old are welcome.

Teams of four can register the day of the event (bringing one unwrapped toy for each participant) on the Green. Donations will start being accepted at 11 a.m.; holiday music will set the mood and the boys plan on giving out hot chocolate and cookies.

The scavenger hunt, which is still being finalized, will feature questions like taking a photo with a family heriloom and finding places around Branford. Morrison said items listed on the scavenger hunt will be located within walking and driving distance from the Green so a car or transportation is required. There will be a grand prize for the winning team.