About: Inspirica CT

Inspirica, Inc.’s mission is to break the cycle of homelessness by helping people achieve – and maintain- permanent housing and stability in their lives. We are one of the largest providers of services to the homeless in Fairfield County. Each night, we house approximately 350 people, and each year we serve more than 850 people (including 250 children). We operate 11 facilities including emergency shelters, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing and deeply affordable housing.  We further provide an extensive array of support services, including vocational training, workforce education, job placement, housing placement, job & housing retention support, early childhood & parenting services, children’s services, counseling, case management, and much more. See the link: https://portal.ct.gov/OPM/Fin-General/About/Nonprofit-Grant-Program-NGP/Success-Stories/Inspirica for more.

How you can contribute:

MEAL PROVISION: EARLY CHILDHOOD & PARENTING PROGRAM

Prepare a meal for the 25 parents and children in our Early Childhood and Parenting Program. This program helps the adult clients who live in our family shelter develop various parenting skills, including communication, child development, and effective strategies to advocate for children — all while their children engage in crucial early childhood development and pre-literacy activities. At the end of each session, the parents and children all join together for a meal. Volunteers may prepare and drop off a meal, or prepare a meal on-site. There is no requirement to stay and serve. Ongoing opportunity | Most volunteers serve monthly or quarterly Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays; dinner served at 6:30pm 141 Franklin Street in downtown Stamford

MEAL PROVISION: WOODLAND CAMPUS

Prepare and serve a meal at our Women’s Emergency Shelter at our Woodland Campus. On Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, volunteers serve the 25 women who live in our shelter. On Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, up to 45 men and women from the full campus are invited to dinner. Volunteers must stay to serve the meal. Ongoing opportunity | Most providers serve monthly or quarterly 365 days/year; dinner served at 6:00pm all nights, brunch served at 11:00am or 12:00 noon on weekends Located at 8 Woodland Place in Stamford’s South End neighborhood

YOUTH CENTER

Our Youth Center is our after-school program for the school-aged children in our care, and is structured to include free play time, homework/quiet reading time, as well as an enrichment activity. Volunteers assist with homework and provide one-on-one attention to the children, and providing positivity and stability in the children’s lives. Ongoing opportunity | Most volunteers attend weekly or bi-weekly Monday through Friday during the school year, 4:00 to 6:00pm 141 Franklin Street in downtown Stamford Want to volunteer with us? Please reach out to Sarah Kennedy at skennedy@InspiricaCT.org or 203-388-0109 BABY-SI T T ING Volunteers help with childcare so that adult clients may attend Early Childhood and Parenting classes, which focus on parenting skills. The children attend early childhood development and pre-literacy classes. Minimum age for volunteers is 15.

BEAUTIFICATION

Groups of up to 45 can lead various beautification projects around our 11 facilities. Opportunities can be tailored to meet your group’s needs, size, and availability. Activities include planting, assisting with landscaping, and deep cleaning. Volunteers wishing to plant flowers or shrubs must bring their own supplies/tools. Supplies and equipment for deep cleaning are provided by Inspirica. Seasonal opportunity | March through August Monday through Friday, typically between 10am and 5pm 8 Woodland Place in Stamford’s South End neighborhood or 141 Franklin Street in downtown Stamford VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Want to volunteer with us? Please reach out to Sarah Kennedy at skennedy@InspiricaCT.org or 203-388-0109

THANKSGIVING DRIVE & GIVEAWAY

Each year, we give away approximately 800 turkeys and all of the fixings to our clients and to those in need in our community. Volunteers help with sorting donations and packing Thanksgiving baskets filled with fixings. Volunteers also assist with the Thanksgiving turkey-and-fixings giveaway. Seasonal opportunity | November Sorting day the Saturday before Thanksgiving; Giveaway the Tuesday before Thanksgiving 8 Woodland Place in Stamford’s South End neighborhood

HOLIDAY GIFT COLLECTION

Each year, we hold our Holiday Gift Collection which provides nearly 6,000 gifts to nearly 3,000 children in need in our community. Volunteers may assist with sorting gift donations, checking-in donations, and organizing our gift inventory; wrap gifts during our Big Wrap Event, held on a Saturday in December, a fun day of wrapping to a DJ-led soundtrack; wrap gifts as needed after the wrapping event and helping to organize wrapped gifts for distribution.

DMA Volunteer:

Chris Filmer

About:

DMA members regularly volunteer time participating in town sponsored activities such as: Darien TV79, annual spring clean-up, the Monuments and Ceremonies Commission, wreath re-lighting the Mather Senior Center and, as elected members of the RTM, participating in various committees functioning as part of General Town Government activities. Follow this link for more: http://www.darienct.gov/

How you can contribute:

DMA Volunteers include:

About:  Darien Land Trust

The Darien Land Trust permanently preserves and restores open space, providing the community with environmentally rich habitats, scenic vistas, opportunities for educational experiences and the quiet enjoyment of nature. The Land Trust now owns or has conservation easements of nearly 220 acres in Darien. We have permanently protected diverse natural environments such as wetlands along the Five Mile River, tidal salt marshes at Holly Pond and Scott’s Cove, upland forests in Dunlap Woods, and meadow habitats at Mather Meadows, Fox Run, and Brendans Meadow.

How you can contribute:

Contributions are always welcomed. For volunteering ideas follow this link: https://darienlandtrust.org/volunteering/. Volunteers are vital to the success of the Darien Land Trust, from serving on our board of directors to land protection, habitat restoration, office support, and organization. Whatever your skill, knowledge, or interest, there’s a place you can make a difference.

DMA Volunteers:

Chris Filmer

About:

The DCA  Darien Community Association is a privately-funded nonprofit that does not receive any financial support from the Town of Darien. Since 1923 we’ve been making our community a nicer place to live, by providing people of all ages a place to gather, give and learn.

The Darien Men’s Association is legally organized under the DCA.  They use the DCA as a meeting venue as well as for support services.

How you can contribute:

Since its inception in 1923, the DCA has relied on our hardworking volunteers, who enjoy contributing to our mission, and impacting the Darien community in a positive way. Over 150 volunteers support the many facets of our organization. Access the DCA website for information as to current volunteering opportunities.

Become a member.  It supports a great organization as well as getting you discounts to their great programs such as the Academic Lecture Series.

The DCA Thrift Shop was founded in 1931 to supply clothing and food to families in need, and offer employment for women during the Depression. Today’s shop offers a wide assortment of merchandise including jewelry, books, home furnishings, accessories and more, all at Thrift Shop prices.  Volunteer or donate.

DMA Volunteers:

John Schlachtenhaufen

DMA supports the DCA.  There are 308 members in DMA directory 2019-2020.  Among them are

• 9 DCA Individual memberships
• 38 Family memberships
• 7 Supporting Family memberships
• 18 wives only members

About:

At Home in Darien is a non-profit organization founded by and for the people of Darien, Connecticut who want to preserve and enhance the town’s vibrant, multi-generational community. We provide free services and education – transportation, referral to vetted service providers, communications on events and services, and much more! We are proud to be at the forefront of the aging in place movement as we celebrate our 10th anniversary as a nonprofit organization that provides services to seniors.

How you can contribute:

While donations are always welcomed, volunteer opportunities include:

Friendly Visitor – Provide companionship and support for Darien seniors who would like more socialization;

Friendly Helper – Provide assistance to seniors who need help with small tasks in their home;

Friendly Shopper – Help homebound seniors with grocery shopping;

Friendly Driver – Help drive Darien seniors as needed to appointments during hours and/or locations not covered by At Home In Darien’s transportation service;

Friendly Caller – Support a Darien senior with a daily (or weekly) check-in phone call;

Leaf Rakers – Provide leaf raking to Darien seniors in late Fall and Snow Shovelers – Provide shoveling of the public sidewalk of a Darien senior’s home within 24 hours of snowfall.

See: https://athomeindarien.org/volunteer/ for more.

DMA Volunteers:

Mark Bergen

The Andrew Shaw Memorial Trust, Home for Scouting in Darien

About:

The Andrew Shaw Memorial Trust owns and operates the Boy Scout cabin and property at 140 West Avenue in Darien. For over 100 years it is a place for Darien youth to become leaders. It currently sponsors two Boy Scout Troops, one Scout BSA Troop for Girls and one coed STEM Venture Crew, as well as four Packs. These groups encompass over 300 young men and women and many involved parents. Throughout the year, Darien Scouts actively work to improve the community’s quality of life through their diverse community service and Eagle Scout projects. The first-in-the-country STEM Venture Crew mentors elementary schoolchildren in Darien and at-risk youth in Stamford and in Norwalk, facilitating hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math programs.

How you can contribute:

While the Andrew Shaw Memorial Trust earns a substantial portion of its annual operating costs through the Scouts’ Tag Sale, its major community recycling effort, Darien Scouting needs the community’s financial support to close the gap. 100% OF ANY DONATIONS GO TOWARDS DARIEN SCOUTING. http://www.darienscouts.org/donate/.

Reduce & Recycle at the Scout Tag Sale.

Look around your house for items you no longer want but will help a good cause.  Put them aside and in April the Scouts will start accepting items for the tag sale.  If the item is large and/or heavy, the Scouts will arrange for it to be picked up.  The Boy Scouts do accept car and boat donations year round.  Questions?  See one of the guys below.

Please help us, the community, AND the environment. By donating your reusable items to our tag sale you will have the satisfaction of knowing that these items are being recycled and used by another family, while raising money to support the Boy Scouts in our community. All donations are tax deductible and greatly appreciated!

We eagerly seek:  Antiques, collectibles, foreign currency  jewelry, musical instruments, cars, boats and motorcycles, furniture, rugs, baby/children’s furniture, paintings, pictures, lawn furniture, lawnmowers, lawn and garden tools, hand tools, woodworking tools, construction tools, snow blowers, electronics, stereo equipment, turntables, speakers, computers (less than 10 years old), flat screen TVs, cell phones, CDs, DVDs, records, housewares, lamps and linens, dishes & decorative items, books, games and toys, sporting goods, trikes & scooters, holiday items, and knick knacks.

DMA Volunteers:

Dick Poli, Chartered Organization Representative

Bert von Stuelpnagel, Treasurer