Newtown is nicer in large part due to volunteer efforts. Even so, the Livable Community Initiative frequently hears that nonprofits in town need more volunteers, and residents are challenged to find a match when looking to provide volunteer time.

Friends of Newtown Seniors (FONS) has set out to match organizations and volunteers through a Newtown Volunteer Fair scheduled for Friday, May 10, from 3 to 5 pm, at C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street.

More than a dozen nonprofits have signed up to be at the fair to describe the works of their organizations, the impact volunteers can have, and specific volunteer opportunities people can sign up for at the fair. The options are many and varied: indoors and outdoors, skilled and no skill required, hands-on and support, physical activity and desk work, young adult through centenarian.

Organizations planning to participate, as of May 9, are as follows:

A Place for Hope and Healing,

Ann's Place,

C.H. Booth Library,

EverWonder Children’s Museum,

Friends of Newtown Seniors,

Friends of C.H. Booth Library,

Golden Opportunities,

The Interfaith Partnership for Refugee Resettlement,

Newtown Arts Festival,

Newtown Bike & Trails Committee,

Newtown Forest Association,

Newtown Historical Society,

Newtown Lions Club,

Newtown Meals on Wheels,

Newtown Senior Center, 

Newtown Woman's Club,

Old Glory Days,

Real Food Share,

Regional Hospice and Palliative Care,

Spay & Neuter Association of Newtown,

Town and Country Garden Club,

VNA Newtown, and

Western Connecticut SCORE.

The fair is being organized in cooperation with the library and Newtown Chamber of Commerce.

Ned Simpson, FONS Volunteer Fair coordinator, says all are invited to attend, “if not to volunteer, then to learn about the good works done by many of the nonprofits in town. You can also enjoy refreshments and perhaps win one of the door prizes.”

This is the second such fair produced by FONS. It responds to needs identified from community surveys and last year’s Livable Community Town Workshop.

Registration is not needed to attend the fair, but additional information is available by sending e-mail to info@friendsofnewtownseniors.org.