EVERYONE who works with our families through B2R is a volunteer, and we couldn’t do what we do without them. And we couldn’t possibly afford to pay them what they are worth!
B2R’s structure is family-oriented, with each household having a team of volunteers to meet the specific needs of that family.
- Family S has a lead person who checks in frequently and helps with medical appointments and organization of papers and banking information. S works a ways from his home, and the bus schedule is such that he has to wait an hour between when he gets out of work and when he can board the bus. That’s fine for good-weather days, he says, but he is so thankful for the volunteers who are willing to get a call to come pick him up when necessary. Eight volunteers and subs have all of the workday afternoons covered. S also has a volunteer who is helping him study for his driver permit and someone who helps with English.
- Family FLEB has a lead person as outlined above and several people who can be on call for driving, especially to get the little ones to school on a challenging weather day. This family has had volunteers to help with English and with phone and computer set-up when they first got here. This family has a retired pediatrician who helps with the children’s appointments with doctors and specialists. There have also been volunteers who have driven members of the family to Boston to their consulate’s office when needed.
- Family M has a lead person who offered housing both for M at the beginning and then for a dear friend visiting M. That volunteer and 4 others have been surrounding M with care and love and groceries at times during M’s medical treatments (she is doing much better!). There have been drivers and those who sat with her during treatments and those who have helped set up her new apartment (new in August).
- Family JDE is our newest and not as independent as the others yet. There is a team of 5 people who surround the family with help: shopping; going to BROC, the Community Cupboard and the Parent-Child Center; getting the little ones to school and Mom to work. When they first arrived there was a larger group of folks who stayed with the kids so Mom could go shopping, attend English classes, and go to medical and attorney appointments. The current situation is that a friend from work takes Mom to drop the kids at school and then go to work. For the reverse trip, when the Bus is on schedule, it should work out, with a fair amount of stress, for Mom to get home and go pick up kids in a timely fashion, but it is still a work in progress, and more volunteer drivers would be wonderful! Another challenge will be finding childcare during the December break when Mom still needs to work. Call or email if you have childcare ideas!
There are lots of other volunteers that don’t work directly with families. Everyone on our working Board of Directors is a volunteer, including the Executive Director. We have volunteers who are writing grants, holding a leadership office (President, VP, Treasurer, Secretary), writing thank you notes, filing and organizing the office, sharing news articles, helping to move when necessary, offering temporary housing when necessary, inviting asylum seekers on social outings, organizing the arts marathon, creating art and writing emails in the arts marathon, taking care of the website, and offering clothing and other necessities through the Wallingford Community Thrift Shop. We have pro bono attorneys and medical professionals who support us too.
Here are some take-aways from this thanks-giving post, and some actions from those of you who aren’t yet volunteers to turn it into giving gratefully:
1. Our community of volunteers are all making a huge impact on people’s lives.
2. Each volunteer works at something that fits their gifts and feeds their souls.
3. Each volunteer is standing up for justice and peace through their actions, and we’re doing it together!
4. We still need more volunteers, and we hope YOU will consider joining us in any way that fits YOUR gifts and feeds your soul.
5. Not mentioned so far are all of the people who volunteer their financial resources. Some of our B2R community may not be able to drive folks around or babysit, but they give their wise counsel, their in-kind gifts, and their gifts of money. This is volunteering to give to make the community stronger. We invite all of you to participate in Gratefully Giving.
WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THIS AMAZING COMMUNITY – and we hope you feel that way too.