Reflecting on the past year, I've been thinking about the impact that our volunteers have had. While reviewing the past year's Spotlight on VOLUNTEERING segments from the Newsletters, I realized I had overlooked sharing something special I received from a college student who volunteered with us during her summer break. It's unclear how I missed posting this – perhaps because our programs often focus on older volunteers, or maybe it just slipped my mind. Regardless, I believe it's important to share now.
To provide some context, this volunteer had previously participated in our Branford Pen Pal Project several years ago. In this project, volunteers write to 8th-grade students, forming friendships through handwritten letters. Sunny, the college student, remembered that experience fondly, and it's heartwarming to see her come back to us in search of another volunteer opportunity.
My Experience Volunteering with the Agency on Aging by Assunta Coletta
Volunteering through the Agency on Aging's Friendly Visitors program this summer has been such a rewarding and learning opportunity for me. When I was researching places to volunteer and serve my community this summer, I came across the Friendly Visitors program. The companionships fostered through this initiative were truly inspiring, and I knew I had to reach out to try to get involved in this meaningful work of serving the older adult population. After the interview and onboarding process, I was able to share my interests and experiences with the Director of Volunteer Services, and she diligently worked to set up a meeting with a gentleman in the area who was looking for support.
We initially met to ensure it was a good personality match, and we hit it off! I didn't know it at the time, but this was the beginning of a great friendship. We continued meeting each week, and despite some health hardships, we were able to make time for one another. As this relationship progressed, I also felt myself evolving as an individual in more ways than one. This experience encouraged me to challenge myself to initiate conversations, find common ground, and dig deep. Volunteering through the Friendly Visitors program allowed me to strengthen my communication skills. This bond that we formed has allowed me to approach my professional and academic endeavors with a newfound confidence and commitment to building a rapport with the people I meet.
My take away is that no matter the age we all have something to gain by volunteering with someone.