Volunteer Initiative

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AS OF 12/27/2022
for more information, contact Joeline Wruck:
jwruck@cfgnb.org/860-229-6018 x 307

Art League in New Britain, the second oldest art league in the nation, is currently in process of expanding their board and volunteer base to help fulfill its mission to “create and foster artistic expression and endeavor in the greater New Britain Community.” The board meets monthly on the third Wednesday of each month at 7pm. The Art League is looking for volunteers and members who possess skills such as marketing, web design, business skills, etc., who would like to help and possibly serve on committees and the board. For info on the ALNB visit its FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063652416601

Claws N Paws Rehabilitation Center, is focused on the rescue and rehabilitation of animals and wildlife. Volunteers are needed for the following tasks:

  • Animal Resource volunteer transported needed all year when resources need to be delivered to rehabbers all over Connecticut. Not a regular schedule. The transporter can pick up resources on one day and transport on another if needed. Transporter can make his/her own schedule and route.
  • Animal transporter: Needed all year. Transport animal from vet to rehabber, rehabber to vet, finder to vet or rehabber. Animal will be contained.
  • Trainer of social media: Trainer will work directly with Director on this project when both are available. Looking for someone knowledgeable about FB, Instagram, etc that can teach Director to be more effective with public outreach and fundraising.
  • Future rehabber: All year 24/7. Folks interested in becoming licensed wildlife rehabbers. Center will help them through the process to get their license and provide support when licensed.
  • Natural Food Collector: Seasonal Collect items that are needed by the Center.
  • Carpenter: Needed to build predator nesting box. Must have tools and space in his/her home or bring tools to use at Center. Blueprint and wood will be provided.
  • Construction experience: Spring evenings and weekends. Need someone to correct and finish roof and outdoor enclosure. Must have own tools.
  • Yard work and kennel cleanup. Seasonal and weather permitting. Kennel will not have wildlife during cleanup.

(For more information, visit https://www.clawsnpawsrehabctr.org/ or contact Rosa Morales at clawsnpawsrehabctr@gmail.com)

Connecticut Breast Health Initiative, New Britain (Race in the Park takes place in May in New Britain) needs the following volunteers (job descriptions are available for all positions):

  • Board members: Events Co-Chair, Grants committee member and Vice Chair
  • CT BHI Race in the Park: Volunteer assistant Chair (Solicits and matches volunteers for Planning Committee)
  • Kids Fun Zone Chair – coordinates kids games and activities for race day
  • Refreshment Chair – solicits donations food; coordinates healthy free food for RACE registrants
  • Beer Garden committee – works with three Churches to coordinate all facets
  • RACE Assistant Chairs – support the Chair responsibilities and in training for Chairmanship

(For information on this organization, visit: www.ctbhi.org)

Coram Deo Recovery serves women in recovery from substance abuse and is looking for volunteers to lead its garden this summer, to decorate the exterior of their homes with seasonal decor (pumpkins for fall, wreaths for Christmas, etc.), and to join their Board of Directors – particularly those with expertise in financial planning.
(For more information on this organization, visit: www.coramdeorecovery.org)

Bread for Life, Southington, provides meals daily in its kitchen, delivered within the senior community and also to home-bound citizens, and to children in the summer. Its mission is to provide food, fellowship and a sense of dignity to those in need. It is looking for volunteers to help in its community garden in the spring, summer, and fall. Gardening experience is a bonus but necessary. Hours are flexible. Tasks include weeding, watering, harvesting, tilling, pruning, etc. Please contact Missy Cipriano at Bread for Life interested: info@southingtonbreadforlife.org or 860-276-8389.

The Friendship Service Center, Inc provides a continuum of services for individual adults, families, and youth who are at-risk of or experiencing homelessness in Central Connecticut. They have many opportunities available throughout the year including:

    • Preparing/serving meals in the Tomasso Community Kitchen. Available hours are between 10:30am-1:30pm, or 4pm-6pm, Monday through Friday.
    • Assisting with special events, including Adopt-A-Family, day-of event registration, marketing, etc.
    • General administrative tasks including filing and organizing donations, paperwork, etc.

(For more information on this organization and opportunities, visit www.fsc-ct.org or email communications@fsc-ct.org)

Giving Back Food Pantry, Southington is a food bank and needs two to three volunteers to help with its FoodShare mobile truck distribution two Tuesday mornings per month from 9 to 10 am. The work would include unloading food from the truck onto tables, guiding the recipients as they walk past the tables to choose food, and helping with traffic control in the parking lot.
(For more information on this organization, visit: www.tabernacleonline.com)

Hospital for Special Care, New Britain is the fourth largest, free standing long-term acute care hospital in the U.S. and one of only two in the nation serving both adults and children. Learn about our patients, their individual care needs, and our therapeutic environment through diverse volunteer opportunities across our campus. Volunteer opportunities are available at both the New Britain and Hartford locations:

Opportunities are also available in adaptive sports and inclusive recreation (basketball, tennis, track & field, swimming) and therapeutic horseback riding programs (Middletown location).

  • Dining Companion – (Daily – 11:30am-1:30pm, 4:30-6:30pm)
    Follow feeding instructions to provide safe and consistent mealtime assistance. (Training provided)
  • Nursing Unit Support – (Daily – 9:00-12:00, 12:00-3:30pm, 3:30-7:00pm) Engage in unit-based patient rounding, asking patients if there is anything they need. Provide ancillary support to patients and nursing unit staff by addressing non-care needs of patients, as trained. Provide support in re-stocking materials in patient rooms and on carts. Defer urgent, care or mobility related call bell patient requests to the appropriate nursing/respiratory staff.
  • Clerical Support – (Any day Monday-Friday- between 9:00-3:30)
    Look up medical record numbers in the electronic medical record and write it on paperwork. Prepare the paperwork to scan. Responsibilities may include data entry, mailings, filing, copying, collating and faxing.

(For more information on this organization, visit: www.hfsc.org)

Klingberg Family Centers in New Britain provides hope and healing to children and families whose lives have been traumatized by abuse and/or neglect. It needs three to four volunteers for its food pantry. Specifically, they are in need of people who can come in on Tuesday or Thursday mornings to help unload food to restock the food pantry with (this is usually between 8:30 and 10). They do not need these volunteers every week but if they could have a group of volunteers every other week that would be great. They could also use some volunteers to help make the orders they give out to families as well. Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons/evenings (12:30 to 4:30 or so).
(For more information on this organization, visit: www. klingberg.org)

Living in Safe Alternatives, (LISA), Plainville, provides housing, case management and independent living services to adolescent girls. It needs help with various events and activities, securing donations and communications outreach as follows:

  • Help to plan and executive agency events and activities such as annual fall golf tournament
  • Secure speaking opportunities for staff to spread public awareness & drive more supporters from Southington and Plainville to our Friend network
  • Help to secure products for programs and clients from businesses and the general Plainville and Southington communities
    Assemble Welcome Bags with donated care products and a positive note to be distributed to each new residential client in our programs (assembled bi-monthly)
  • Support agency mailings (quarterly newsletter, annual appeals, thank you card drive)
  • Participate in annual Phone-A-Thon to thank donors

(For more information on this organization, visit: lisainc.org)

Literacy Volunteers of Central CT, New Britain offers tutoring to improve English reading and writing skills for adults. It is looking for volunteers (18 and older with a high school diploma or equivalent), who would like to help other adults in the greater New Britain community attain their literacy based goals. That might include improved reading, writing, and speaking skills in English in order to get a job or get a better job, understand healthcare issues, navigate the school system for their children, or perhaps become a US citizen. Unless you have a teaching background, LVCC asks volunteers to attend an 8-hour training that may be remote or in-person, conducted over 4 days. The commitment to a tutor is two hours once a week for one year. Currently LVCC has many very beginner students waiting for help and many of them are not vaccinated for COVID-19. Instruction is delivered to students either in-person or remotely based on the wishes of the volunteers.

LVACC also seeks someone with connections to the Arabic-speaking or Islamic communities to join its Board of Directors. Board members are expected to attend the monthly Board meeting, currently via Zoom and in person, serve on one of their committees (Governance; Finance; Development), and in general support the efforts of LVCC. Their meetings are usually the third Monday of the month from 6-7pm.
(For more information on this organization, visit: www.literacycentral.org)

New Britain Industrial Museum collects, preserves and exhibits items representing more than 200 years of New Britain innovation and invention. The Museum expects delivery of new metal shelving at our New Britain storage location in January. The shelving will be installed by the vendor but we will need help inspecting existing collection box contents and re-shelving boxes. My guesstimate is that this project will take 12 days, in two stages [six days each], depending upon the number of helpers. Work is estimated to occur between January 16 and February 18, 2023. If you’d like to help please contact Randy Judd at collections@nbindustrial.org, or 860-832-8654

New Britain Teen Pregnancy Prevention (Pathways/Senderos), New Britain Teen Pregnancy Prevention (Pathways/Senderos) works with New Britain youth to assure high school graduation and to promote adult self-sufficiency. The organization is actively recruiting individuals to serve on their Board of Directors. They are in need of individuals with expertise in fundraising, marketing, event planning and finance, as well as a passion for bettering the lives of youth in the community. The board meets on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 8:00 a.m. Tutors are also welcomed, especially those confident in tutoring math and science. (For more information on this organization, visit: www.pathways-senderos.org).

Opportunities Industrialization Center of New Britain , Inc. (OICNB) is the oldest employment and training program in New Britain. OICNB prepares the future workforce by providing the necessary soft skills, career awareness, job shadowing, work experience and internships for youth ages 11-24 years old. OICNB will have a strong focus for the next few years on STEM related careers. It needs volunteers in the following areas:

  • Guest speakers for our afterschool programs and Saturday Program
  • Volunteers who would like to give tours of their facilities if they are STEM related
  • Volunteers who would like to be worksites for our summer youth employment and learning program. (OICNB pays the wages for these youth.
  • Volunteers who wish to assist with the afterschool activities
  • Volunteer who may want to host a fundraiser for OICNB.
  • OICNB is open to other ideas that a volunteer may have.

For more information on this organization visit our Facebook page or website:www.newbritainoic.org or call 860-224-7151 for a personal tour of our facility)

Queen Ann Nzinga Center, Plainville is a youth development program and needs the following volunteers:

  • action oriented board members
  • Volunteers to provider refreshments for kids programs on Saturdays
  • Usher in person performances
  • Mailing, social media
  • Volunteers with special talents or successes they would like to share with young people.

(For more information on this organization visit: www.qanc.org)

Rebuilding Together, New Britain repairs homes for those in need and has opportunities for individual volunteers or volunteer teams to get involved. The following opportunities are available:

  • Company volunteer teams needed to tackle exterior repairs for a needy homeowner during their April 2022 Rebuilding Day Event (Saturday), or possibly another month (dependent on the course of the pandemic). Each team will need 1-3 project leaders willing to commit to approx. 25 hours (each) over a couple of months to prepare a project for the 1-2 day volunteer team participation.
  • Licensed/Skilled volunteers (plumbers, electricians, general home repair, etc.) willing to take on some critical needs. Time/date commitment is flexible.
  • Office/Warehouse volunteer—currently looking for 1-2 individuals interested in helping to organize their warehouse and office files, during the workweek. Time commitment is flexible.

(For more information on this organization, visit www.rtnewbritain.org)

Senior Transportation Services assists local residents with securing rides and needs board members to increase diversity on its board (it is looking for individuals 25+ years old). The board meets every second Wednesdays of the month at 7:45-9:00am and needs new board members that have passion/drive to ensure STS thrives and expands its services to more communities to ensure older adults have access to vital services. STS also needs volunteer drivers (age 30+), requirement is 2 rides per month, pass a background check, and mileage reimbursement is provided. Clients live in the towns of Berlin, Meriden, New Britain, Plainville, Southington, and Wallingford. (For more information on this organization visit: www.seniorrides.org)

YWCA of New Britain is seeking volunteers for its middle and high school programs held on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30pm-5: 30pm. Volunteers would come for the first half of program and tutor students in math, English or science. If interested, contact Olga Fritho, Director of Youth Development programs via email at ofritho@ywcanewbritain or by phone: 860-794-2823.