At Fairfield County-based VolunteerSquare.com, we are big believers in the power of volunteering to help the community and help volunteers themselves. In this two part series, we’ll introduce you to two local residents using volunteering as a way to make new connections in their communities.
This week, we want you to meet Kara. Kara is a Wisconsin native who recently moved to Connecticut. Kara grew up in a big family on a big farm in Wisconsin and says the fast-pace of Connecticut is exciting, but took some getting used to.
“Life is a lot slower back in Wisconsin,” she said. “But good people are everywhere and I wanted to find a way to make those connections here in my new home.”
So Kara, a lifelong volunteer, turned to community service once again and found Family Centers. That’s where we met her, volunteering with our good friends in their Greenwich office.
Find out what's happening in Darienwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“One year into living in Greenwich I just started to want to be connected in the community and found Family Centers,” said Kara. “The team there has made it so easy to give back and they are so welcoming. It’s a great fit for me.”
Kara first started volunteering in the classrooms, helping the teachers at Family Centers’ head start program. Then, that turned into a part-time job for Kara. Three mornings a week, Kara became a paid assistant in the classrooms.
Find out what's happening in Darienwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
But when that ended, Kara didn’t want to stop volunteering with Family Centers. Right now, Kara is volunteering twice a week for about 6 hours each week in her off-time from her job working in the classrooms and also helping the administrative team with various fundraising projects.
“I’m sort of a jack-of-all-trades volunteer,” joked Kara. “I have the chance to help an agency I really believe in while at the same time I have the opportunity to gain new skills and explore new career avenues.”
Director of Community Engagement Jennifer Flatow says Kara is a real asset to Family Centers, too.
“I have seen Kara evolve from a volunteer to a paid teaching position at Family Centers, and I was thrilled to meet with her and revisit her volunteer goals,” said Flatow. “Knowing she had an expressed interest in learning more about the non-profit sector and development, she has already demonstrated that she is a valued team member. Our team feels very lucky to have someone like Kara volunteering with us and we're excited to see how her role evolves.”
“It sounds cliché but I really feel that I get so much more than I give,” Kara said. “But just knowing what’s out there and what you can do is half the battle. Once you start, you won’t want to stop!”
If you’re looking for your perfect volunteer fit, be sure to visit us at VolunteerSquare.com. Sign up for our free, custom e-alerts so we can keep you in the know about local projects you care about most. While you’re at it, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter, too!
