Volunteer opportunities rise as holidays approach

MIDDLETOWN — Volunteers are essential to all nonprofits, and with the holiday season coming up, this is the time of year organizations need the most extra hands. The holidays are a time many of us look forward to but for some families in our community, they see these events and celebrations as reminders of their challenges. For those who are willing to lend a hand, we are happy to announce a few upcoming opportunities to give back.

Here at Middlesex United Way, we are part of the Middletown Community Thanksgiving Project, established to ensure that all Middletown families who can’t afford to purchase a Thanksgiving meal can still enjoy a holiday feast, and we’re gearing up to assemble 1,000 Thanksgiving baskets for local families and individuals in need.

There are many ways besides a financial or food donation to help with our 1,000-basket goal. The Middlesex United Way Young Leaders Society is hosting two Thanksgiving fill-a-bus food drives. You can find this group of young volunteers at Price Chopper in Middletown Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Stop & Shop in Middletown.

Volunteer duties include greeting shoppers outside the grocery store and handing out flyers as customers head in to do their shopping. This will be a fun opportunity to help support our charitable mission and to meet some great aspiring community leaders. If you would like to volunteer at either location, contact Amanda Furlong at 860-346-8695 or Amanda.furlong@middlesexunitedway.org.

Another way to get involved with the Middletown Community Thanksgiving Project is to volunteer to register Middletown families wanting to receive a Thanksgiving food basket. Registration for these families takes place at Amazing Grace Food Pantry and each volunteer period is two hours long. Call Lara SantaMaria at 860-346-1181 to learn more and sign up for a shift.

With the holidays comes the cold, and the Kiwanis Foundation of Middletown is a nonprofit organization whose Warm The Children program provides new basic and warm winter clothing and footwear for children in need, from birth through 15 in the greater Middletown area. Volunteers are needed to help gather orders and shop with the families to purchase these crucial items. The volunteer shoppers contact their assigned family and then meet the parent/guardian at Walmart in Cromwell. If you are interested in being a volunteer shopper for this program, email warmthechildren.middletown@gmail.com.

Our fellow community organizations are also taking this time to help those who may need it. The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce has a variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the year that allow people to make a difference in their communities. The Hal Kaplan Middletown Mentor Program needs mentors to volunteer time each week at Middletown Public Schools to make a difference in a child’s life. For more information, email mentor coordinator Sylvia Webb at sylvia.e.webb@gmail.com or call the chamber at 860-347-6924.

An upcoming event in need of volunteers is the 32nd annual Holiday on Main Street presented by Pratt & Whitney, which begins Nov 24 and continues Saturdays until Dec. 16. The chamber is looking for folks to dress up as characters in costumes at holiday story time. For information, contact Cathy Duncan at cathy@middlesexchamber.com or call 860-347-6924.

These are just a handful of the many volunteer opportunities throughout Middlesex County, and we urge those who are interested to get involved. There are opportunities for any and everyone who would like to make a change, and from personal experience, I can attest that there is no better feeling than making someone’s day even just a little better.