Neighbors Link Stamford: A Family of Volunteers

From the outside, Neighbors Link Stamford looks like just another industrial building on the city’s South side. But one step through the front door of the Selleck Street facility and the old adage “Don’t judge a book by its cover” comes immediately to mind.

On any given day visiting our friends at Neighbors Link you’ll find a buzzing hive of activity focused entirely on supporting the city’s immigrant population. Neighbors Link is a relatively young nonprofit that provides a comprehensive resource center for recent immigrants in the Stamford area.

Its mission is to “strengthen the whole community by actively enhancing the healthy integration of immigrants.” This is achieved through an astonishing array of free services: Adult English classes (WITH free, on-site childcare to accommodate students!), confidential referrals to local health, education and social service providers, specialized training like computer skill courses to enhance job prospects, social activities and more.

Beyond that, it's clear to even the most casual observer that Neighbors Link Stamford provides much more than that practical support. It is a community center in the truest sense, providing an overwhelming feeling of togetherness, safety and support for its clients. This is a family.

Neighbors Link Director of Volunteers Gerrianne Delaney is a fixture at the site and, frankly, a force of nature. Delaney takes her role with the agency very seriously, even volunteering to teach English classes with her husband in the evenings. Building a dedicated corps of volunteers is Gerrianne’s main focus.

“With our staff of only four there is no way we could ever do all the things that we're doing today,” said Delaney. “Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization. All the services that we're providing are totally dependent upon the enthusiasm and commitment of our unbelievable volunteers. They come in all ages, shapes and sizes and they are amazing!”

We recently had the opportunity to spend some time at Neighbors Link during the evening classes and met volunteers of all ages - from high school and college to retirees. One of the star volunteers we met, UCONN Stamford senior Mairead Hynes, has been volunteering with Neighbors Link Stamford for two years and says the experience has been more than rewarding.   

“It's easy to forget, especially across language, class, and cultural barriers, that everyone has a story to tell, sometimes a tragic one,” said Hynes. “But at Neighbor's Link, I think the sheer amount of talking we do creates an atmosphere of trust, so I both hear and tell stories that I know none of us would share with strangers and casual acquaintances. I think that trust is hugely important, because I think with recent immigrants there's often distrust and confusion on both sides, and the best way to get around that is to talk and listen.”

Neighbors Link needs volunteers for ESL classes, childcare, special events and more.

To learn about where you can volunteer visit us at VolunteerSquare.com. Be sure to sign up for our free e-alerts so we can keep you in the loop on volunteer projects that matter to you!