For the second year in a row, Jill DeChello will bring back the Winter Wonderland drive-through at The Landing, following the two Pumpkin Patches and a Spring Fantasy. DeChello’s drive-through events began in fall 2020 due to COVID. Each of the events has not only raised money for various charities, but seen local organizations, businesses, and residents come together to bring the community a seasonal activity.

“I love the planning and reaching out to people for help and I rarely hear ‘No’—we have so many sponsors, it would be impossible to list them all,” said DeChello who runs North Haven Magazine. “I like seeing something that didn’t exist and was in my head come to life and I like to make people happy. The town does so much for me. It’s my way of giving back.”

The 2021 Winter Wonderland drive-through event will be held The Landing, 201 Clintonville Road on Friday, Dec. 10 and Saturday, Dec. 11 from 5 to 8 p.m. The suggested donation is $10 per car. Last year’s event saw 750 cars drive through and raised $8,500.

This year’s event will again benefit the Italian American Youth Foundation. According to its Facebook page, the foundation’s “mission is to be a philanthropic association supporting the Italian and Italian American culture and education in our community.” The foundation has also established an education fund in honor and memory of Marc Anthony Casella.

Nick Casella, father of Anthony, is “humbled” by those who support the organization, noting that the support encourages the group to continue to help the community. The foundation helps the community through donations to food banks, helping with Thanksgiving meals, assisting those in need with holiday gifts, and providing coats to those in need.

“We know that there are many who need support during these difficult times and who are too proud to admit that they are hurting financially and emotionally,” said Casella “For a parent not to be able to feed their children because they are experiencing difficulties in their lives, or for those children who are coping with a troubled family life, we want to make a difference in their lives.”

Those attending this year’s Winter Wonderland will not only be supporting the IYF’s mission, but can expect a drive-through full of decorated trees, characters, music, and snow. Though DeChello has hosted similar events for other seasons, she is most excited for Winter Wonderland.

“Winter is my favorite season, Christmas is my favorite holiday, and I loved how beautiful Winter Wonderland turned out last year—the lights on all the trees, the drive-through snow, Santa and all the characters,” said DeChello. “During a challenging year, it made it feel like Christmas and the response was so positive, there was never a question that I would do it again.”

While DeChello puts the pieces into place, the events have become a team effort. In addition to being continuously supported by The Landing, DeChello is thankful for Ron Iannucci from RVI Computers who picks up the 100 sand bags donated by Keeghan Materials with Mike’s Automotive flatbed.

There are also many sponsors for the decorated trees. Michael Mitchell from Sunbelt Rentals is a new sponsor who is donating lights for the North Haven Community Emergency Response Team as well as heaters to keep the volunteers warm.

There are also many volunteers, many who started with DeChello’s first drive-through event. As the events have continued, more volunteers have stepped up, including Jeff Deluca from Infinite Nutrition, who was a dancing zombie at the Pumpkin Patch and will be donning an elf hat at this weekend’s Winter Wonderland.

“I could not and would not try to do any of this without the amazing amount of support I get,” said DeChello. “I’m always grateful and a little surprised that people come back for each event. I think my enthusiasm is contagious and we all share the need to help and an occasionally happy hour. I consider them family.”