Volunteerism, Community, and Celebration – A Healthy Combination
Volunteer Appreciation Week in Lyme – April 21-27, 2024
THANK YOU to all who made the week sparkle!
CommunityCare of Lyme celebrated service all week, in partnership with friends, neighbors, and local businesses. We LOVED spending some time volunteers who give so much to the community!
As note, as we enter Mental Health Month: Like much of our own communication around Volunteer Appreciation Week, the conversation around volunteerism usually emphasizes service – how others will benefit. There’s lots of research demonstrating just how significant the benefits are to volunteers themselves. Consider “How Volunteering Improves Mental Health”, from the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) website, where there are lots of resources. Here’s a snippet: “Whether you are a family member or caregiver for someone with a mental health condition — or have the lived experience yourself — volunteering can be a positive step toward improving your health and yield many benefits.” Also consider this 😊 …
We had fun!
Tuesday: Breakfast on the Run in front of Stella’s
With yogurt parfaits, warm Moe’s Mini Muffins from Stella’s, coffee from Lyme Country Store, bagels and fruit, plus daffodils from Nora Rhoads, and Honeyfield Farm pansies for all volunteers. The chilly morning bloomed into a gorgeous day with a warm gathering of happy volunteers.
Happy Volunteers!
Christie in the sunshine, and Nora’s bountiful daffodils.
Generous Supporters
Lyme Country Store coffee and Moe’s mini muffins from Stella’s.
Wednesday: Pinwheel Pop-up on the Common
Three hundred pinwheels “appeared” on the Common on Wednesday morning. Like a pinwheel that gets moving with even the slightest breeze, volunteers turn small actions into significant, colorful displays of change and positivity. Our pinwheel assembly crew had no idea what they were in for, and assembled over 200 pinwheels without any instructions. Our sneaky pop-up crew went out on Tuesday night to set the stage.
Pinwheel Assembly Team
Marilyn Whittet, Geri Burgess, Lee Lopez, Eleanor Shafer, Ella Harper-Schiehl, Lynn Sheldon, Marilyn Wanner, Shelby Wood, John Biglow
The Pinwheel Pop-Up Crew
Rising 8th Grade Kids for Hire students and parents, with Marilyn Wanner, planting the surprise inspired by 300 volunteers
Thursday: You’re So Sweet Dessert Bar in the CCL Living Room
Meisha’s cupcakes, Shelby’s beautiful chocolate dipped strawberries, plus array of tasty treats almost as sweet as our volunteers. Every volunteer got to bring a little floral love home, to grow and lift spirits all season.
Food as love
It couldn’t get sweeter!
Pansies from Honey Field Farm
Gorgeous early season blooms!
Volunteers, thank you for sharing YOU
You bring joy
You make the community shine
You are appreciated every week!
Community Businesses and Neighbors
Thank you for your enthusiasm and support in celebrating service!
Lyme Country Store, donating coffee for Breakfast on the run
Stella’s Italian Kitchen & Market, sharing your warm space and warm mini-muffins for Breakfast on the Run
Ariana’s Restaurant, contributing Volunteer Appreciation Week vouchers for a free dessert or drink with an entree
Honey Field Farm, offering beautiful pansies at a discounted rate
Sno.Matic Controls & Engineering, printing grand, celebratory signage
Meisha Pamukcu, baking sweet and fancy cupcakes for dessert buffet
Nora Rhoads, gifting her beautiful daffodils
MAY THE FOURTH
Yoda knows: The Force is strong with this … community.
Lyme’s Day of Service and Green Up Day
Let’s GROW THE FORCE
of volunteerism and love that strengthens our community.
SIGN UP
Complete a Project for a neighbor or a shared community space
From The Whole CCL Team
We are all in this together and grateful for all the time, energy, communication, skills, resources, and love that go in to your service in the community.
CCL Board
Dan Freihofer, Board Chair
Patty Jenks, Chief Community Advocate
Kathy Sherrieb, Executive Committee
Martha Tecca, Executive Director
Marilyn Wanner, Outreach and Administration
Nancy Allison
Jennifer Boylston
Julie Davis
CCL Staff
Shelby Wood, Manager of Volunteer Participation
Volunteer Appreciation Week (VAW) Photos
Click below to scroll through a slideshow of photos from VAW and beyond. If you have more photos to share, please email them to shelby@cclyme.org .
If you would like to be more involved in the community, please contact us any time. Email info@cclyme.org, click here for a brief form to share how you might like to join in, or go to the Volunteer Opportunities page on our website.
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