Volunteer Open Forums Planned

Starbucks Newtown will hold its next two volunteer open forums next week, with residents of all ages invited to meet representatives from a number of nonprofit groups who have volunteer opportunities available.

On Monday, April 27, representatives from Newtown Youth & Family Services, Newtown Parks & Recreation, Hook & Ladder Volunteer Fire Department, and Relay For Life will be at the coffee shop, 34 Church Hill Road, from 3 to 5 pm.

Then on Friday, May 1, from 9 am until noon, representatives from FISH, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Golden Opportunities, Newtown Cultural Arts Commission, and Masonicare Home Health & Hospice will all be at Starbucks.

Forums are being offered during the final week of each month and have been very successful since their debut in January, according to Starbuck Newtown general manager Peter Johnson.

A Success Story

Golden Opportunities is one group that has already posted a success story thanks to the volunteer forums.

The Sandy Hook based nonprofit, which has as its mission the wish to enhance the quality of life for those who are experiencing isolation, loneliness ,or helplessness by providing them with outreach services of comfort, compassion, and support, has been a frequent participant in the Starbucks Volunteer Open Forums.

“As a result of the first Volunteer Open Forum, Golden Opportunities developed a wonderful relationship with a new volunteer who will soon begin visiting a resident of an area eldercare facility,” Nancy Taylor, the program administrator for Golden Opportunities, said this week.

“The volunteer is confined to a wheelchair, as is the resident, who has MS,” she continued. “They are both very intelligent men who will bring enriching companionship to each other’s lives. Finding a volunteer to visit with the resident was a request from the facility.

“The day after we received the request we got a call from the new volunteer, whose wife had picked up the info [about our group and opportunities] at Starbucks,” she said. “You never know when one thing will lead to another terrific thing.”

Members of 501(3)(c) companies or organizations that help Newtown residents, need volunteers, and want to participate are invited to contact Mr Johnson by calling 364-1423 for more information. Forums are offered during the last week of each month and are on varying days and at different times in order to reach the largest number of potential volunteers for the participating groups.

Details are also available at v2v.net/actions/volunteer-open-house-newtown.