MONROE, Conn. — Whether you’re interested in helping out with emergency response, being involved with the town’s history, supporting the Edith Wheeler Memorial Library, supporting those impacted by cancer, or a wide range of other volunteer opportunities, the library was the place to be this past Saturday afternoon for a two-hour Volunteer Fair.
Representatives from various volunteer-driven organizations in town set up in the library’s Ehlers Room to build interest in and recruit helpers for their efforts.
“Always crucial,” Monroe EMS Deputy Chief Ryan Condon said of the importance of people stepping up to lend a hand. “We have a whole room here of volunteers, which shows you volunteers are alive and well.”
The objective of the Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service, of course, is to ensure everybody — in the event of a medial emergency — is alive and well. Its motto is “Neighbors helping neighbors.” Condon demonstrated how to apply a tourniquet to stop bleeding. The booth also had a dummy for CPR demos.
Lisa Pane, administrator for Monroe EMS, talked about the Steady Steps program, designed to empower seniors to prevent falls and emergencies. Pane explained that the program includes volunteers assessing needs of seniors, performing weekly check-in calls and providing material to guide seniors on how to gain strength and stability. E-mail [email protected] to volunteer with Monroe EMS.
Annie Scarano helped to organize Saturday’s Volunteer Fair.
“The drive behind making this event happen, is we need more adult volunteers for these wonderful organizations,” Scarano said in an email Sunday. “Many times people want to volunteer, but don’t know how to go about it. There are also many tweens and teenagers who would like to volunteer, but do not how to contact the right people. Yesterday was about creating that space to make that networking happen.”
“Luca, who works at the library, helped create this environment with me yesterday and I could not have done it without them,” she added. “Next year we would like to host again with more organizations involved, like the youth groups, the apple/strawberry festival committees, school PTOs, a garden club, WMDZ. Giving back to your community is so important, and what better way to do it than through volunteering?”
Some of the other organizations at the fair Saturday included the Rotary Club of Monroe, Save Our Stepney Task Force, the Monroe Republican Town Committee, the Monroe Lions Club, the Center for Family Justice, Monroe CT250, Harmony Grange No. 92, the YMCA, West Bridge Home Repairs for limited incomes, SCORE and the Monroe Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
CERT helps to keep people prepared by knowing what’s needed for a basic emergency supply kit, and what to do before and after an emergency. Prospective volunteers may e-mail CERT Coordinator David York at [email protected].
Other organizations at the fair included the Monroe Women’s Club, Think Pink Monroe, Monroe/Trumbull CT Binky Patrol, the Monroe Historical Society and Friends of the Edith Wheeler Memorial Library.
The Friends of the Edith Wheeler Memorial Library volunteer group puts on the book sale and helps make many of the library’s programs, such as children’s activities, the family concert series, along with museum passes, free to the public. Additionally, they help out with library landscaping and donate furniture and picnic tables.
“A lot of the things they have would not be possible without us,” Friends of the Library President Lorraine Riedel said.
Information on how to support the library may be found by clicking here.
The Monroe Women’s Club had a table with a few of its volunteers — Mary Christian-Hein, Patrice Green and Treasurer Deborah Heim — who discussed what the club supports — a lengthy list including the Tree Lighting Ceremony on the town green, Wounded Warriors and Think Pink Monroe, just to name a few.
“It’s very community driven,” Heim said.
For information on the Monroe Women’s Club, send an e-mail to [email protected].
“We really need volunteers right now,” Think Pink Monroe volunteer Christina Larkin said. Think Pink’s mission is to promote breast cancer awareness, offset costs for patients and to provide education and support to those in need. It holds events such as the October 17 Walk of Hope, which welcomes all who have been impacted by any form of cancer.
For information on how to help Think Pink Monroe e-mail [email protected].
The Monroe/Trumbull CT Binky Patrol welcomes those who want to help make and donate blankets for children who are hurting, sad or scared — whether they are in hospitals, shelters, schools or at home. This nonprofit’s local chapter was founded in 2014 and has since distributed more than 27,000 binkies. E-mail [email protected] to help.
“A lot of our recipients turn around and pay it forward,” said Jeanne Malgioglio, who is on the board of directors for the national Binky Patrol organization and started the local chapter.
Monroe has quite a history and what better way to learn about it and help others discover their roots than through the Monroe Historical Society, which preserves and presents history in town.
Katie Caciula, a board member and volunteer, said the Historical Society is always looking for volunteers. “Anyone interested in preserving history or who loves Christmas,” she added. The annual Christmas Fair is the group’s biggest fundraiser of the year.
“It’s super important. You need to know your history or you’re doomed to repeat it,” Caciula said. “And it’s good to know where you came from.”
For information on the Historical Society’s upcoming events, such as the Saturday, April 18, Basket Making Class at the East Village Meeting House, or to become a volunteer, visit monroecthistory.org.
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