Students Have Many Opportunities To Volunteer

By Dani Villa & Anna Hodge

Newtown High School students are required to complete 100 hours of community service to earn special recognition at their graduation. Each year students search for places to spend these community service hours.

With organizations including the Youth Volunteer Corps of Western Connecticut, Newtown Youth & Family Services, Golden Opportunities, and Canine Advocates of Newtown, students of Newtown are offered a variety of community service projects.

The Youth Volunteer Corps of Western Connecticut is located in Danbury, and it is a “team-based volunteer corps,” according to its website, made up of people with various socioeconomic backgrounds. With a mission to “engage young people in service learning projects that are challenging, rewarding and educational,” the Youth Volunteer Corps focuses on environmentally based projects in western Connecticut, according to manager Jessica McKeown.

“The YVC of Western Connecticut is a year old, and is the first and only affiliate of the Youth Volunteer Corps of America in the state of Connecticut,” Ms McKeown said.

“We’ve done community service projects including clearing trails, building stairs, creating a wetlands boardwalk, and even marking specimen from a local lake,” said Ms McKeown, who added that no skills are needed for these types of projects.

This summer, the YVC of Western Connecticut offered Summer of Service, a five week program consisting of a series of environmentally based community service projects. Although concluded, the fifth week ended August 5, according to Ms McKeown, the projects were three days a week for the five weeks, totaling 24 hours each week.

“If you do the whole service plan, then you get 100 hours,” Ms McKeown said, which is exactly what students of Newtown want to hear.

According to Ms McKeown, she has noticed there is a younger demographic for community service projects, because more students want to receive credit for their services at graduation.

“Some of my members want to work in the community, and others want to work in the community for school requirements,” Ms McKeown said.

“Anybody who is 11 to 18 years old can take part in projects with the YVC. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, or what grade you’re in,” Ms McKeown said. The YVC takes part in community service projects year-round, all over western Connecticut, including Newtown.

To learn more about the Youth Volunteer Corps of Western Connecticut or to find community service opportunities in the area, log on to www.yvcofwc.moonfruit.com.

Meanwhile, for those looking for community service projects specifically in Newtown, a group of Newtown High School students have been working at Newtown Youth & Family Services to create a volunteer booklet consisting of 50 ways that the youth of Newtown can volunteer.

“The booklet acts as an agency guide for children who want community service,” said Jessi Zeigler, program director at NYFS.

A community service opportunity that NYFS offers in April is the Independent Living Day.

“Children and their families help senior citizens with their needs, such as gardening, computer work, even washing windows,” said Ms Zeigler.

According to Ms Zeigler, youths participating in community service receive time management skills, and responsibility.

“By taking part in community service opportunities, they are helping out in the community instead of getting into trouble,” Ms Zeigler said.

Other Opportunities

Other community service opportunities going on in Newtown include the C.H. Booth Library Annual Book Sale, where kids of 14 or older can volunteer and help sort books as a way to receive their hours for graduation.

Because the sorting of the books goes on year-round, most youths are occupied with school, meaning the best time for them to volunteer for the library is at the book sale, in the summer.

The book sale volunteers is through Friends of C.H. Booth Library.

For those interested in working with others, Golden Opportunities is seeking volunteers. Golden Opportunities, an organization that works to better the lives of the elderly, has several opportunities available for people of any age group.

Knettie Archer, the managing director of Golden Opportunities, explained that volunteers can be “friendly visitors” in a nursing or retirement home. Working one-on-one with an assigned resident, friendly visitors are required to come in for at least two hours per month, so that a relationship can grow.

“Friendly visitors visit those without family or regular visitors; those who truly benefit from a bond,” said Mrs Archer.

Ideally, a six-month commitment is established, so that both the resident and the volunteer can develop a strong connection.

There are also opportunities for occasional helpers. Single-visit volunteers can give hand massages or take part in the “bingo brigade.” During the holiday season, visitors can assist in setting up gifts. For five holidays, Golden Opportunities gives away about 700 goodie bags. Entertainers are always welcomed as well, and past talents have ranged from singing to magicians.

The work of these volunteers has a very real and positive effect on the residents.

“The interaction and stimulation results in better health. There is a decrease in depression and better heart rates,” said Mrs Archer.

However, not just students want to participate in community service. Volunteers who are 18 or older are eligible to work at the Women’s Center of Greater Danbury, an organization that serves as a tool to aid those hindered by domestic violence, sexual assault, and other traumas.

To work directly with the program, volunteers must undergo complete certification training, but to work as a nondirect assistant, a two-hour orientation is required. Both positions require a brief interview.

Direct volunteers serve as hotline and in-house counselors and support group leaders, among other things. Nondirect volunteers aid in various activities, such as the annual events like the Walk Against Domestic Violence, child care, clerical duties, and holiday projects.

Helping Four-Legged Friends

Volunteers who are 21 or over working toward college credits and would like to help out a little more locally can find service opportunities at the local dog pound.

One way to help is to distribute flyers advertising the animals housed in the pound, in hope of quickly finding them a home.

Virginia Jess, a member of the Canine Advocates of Newtown, said that the best way for others to help is to provide daily walks for the dogs.

“The dogs have a schedule for the morning and the afternoon, and they need to be walked at both times,” she said.

The Canine Advocates also organize fundraising events, such as wine tastings and silent auctions, that benefit from the help of volunteers.

To learn more about any of the organizations mentioned in this article, visit their websites:

Youth Volunteer Corps of Western Connecticut, www.yvcofwc.moonfruit.com.

C.H. Booth Library, www.chboothlibrary.com.

Newtown Youth & Family Services Community Services, www.newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org.

Golden Opportunities, www.goldenopps.org.

Canine Advocates of Newtown, visit www.canineadvocates.org.

Women’s Center of Greater Danbury, www.womenscenterofgreaterdanbury.org.