Make Lasting Holiday Memories With These 5 Volunteer Opportunities In Branford

BRANFORD, CT — Volunteering is a meaningful way to connect with neighbors in Branford and make lasting holiday memories for both yourself and the people you help.

Volunteering also fosters a sense of shared responsibility and purpose, leading to a more vibrant, resilient, and engaged community with a higher quality of life.

Many of the organizations that make life better in Branford depend on volunteers.

Here are five ways to volunteer in Branford:

• The Connecticut Hospice: Connecticut Hospice volunteers, some 400 of them, come from all walks of life. The volunteer program features flexible schedules that work for volunteers, with a four-hour per week minimum commitment, and includes orientation and training for "each volunteer who gifts us with their time, talents and expertise." Volunteers receive ongoing support from our staff and experienced volunteers. Roles include administrative assistance, compassionate sitters, pastoral and spiritual, expressive arts, patient assist (hands-on care), community outreach, events, greeter, pet therapy, reception desk, and transportation, among others. For more information, click here.
• Branford Food Pantry: "As a 100% volunteer organization, we are always on the lookout for dedicated self-starters willing to commit to regular volunteer hours and want to be involved in helping those in Branford who need our help the most." Click here for more information.
• Branford Compassion Club: The non-profit feline rescue relies on volunteers. The various roles for volunteers include: cleaning and feeding at the shelter twice a day, feeding our feral colony cats, helping with fundraising, socializing shy cats, providing foster home care, contributing to bake sales, representing the shelter at off-site events, and crafting home-made items to sell at events. Learn more here.
• Community Dining Room:"Every day at the Community Dining Room, when the hungry and often lonely come to have a hot meal served by volunteers, they find nutrition for the body and spirit. And fellowship as they share their meals with others, all of whom are served with dignity." Serving a "growing population of hungry in every shoreline town from East Haven, Branford, North Branford, and Guilford ... more than 4,500 each month come for that meal." The Community Dining Room hosts mandatory Volunteer Orientation quarterly on the 2nd Monday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The orientation alternates between in-person and Zoom. Contact Volunteer Coordinator, Gleeson Edwards, volunteercoordinator@communitydiningroom.org 203-488-9750 ( ext. 1 ), 203-936-9205
• And for one-stop volunteer-opportunity shopping, visit BranfordVolunteers.org, which connects volunteers with non-profits. In its first year, it matched 700 volunteers with organizations in need of helping hands. Launched by the Branford Community Foundation, it connects folks with more than 50 local nonprofits. Learn more here.