Ridgefield Nonprofit Fair Highlights New Ways To Get Involved

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Local nonprofit organizations will showcase their missions at the upcoming Ridgefield Neighbors and Newcomers Nonprofit Fair, organizers announced this week.

The event will feature 46 different organizations, each presenting opportunities for community involvement through volunteering, activities, and potential donations. It is scheduled for Sunday, April 27, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Yanity Gym, 60 Prospect Street.

"The goal really is for everybody to see the width and breadth of what's available to them in Ridgefield, to become a deeper part of the community," said Jennifer Brakenwagen, RNN's president.

The fair emerged from a unique challenge borne of a deep dive into RNN's whole raison d'être. The non-profit social club, founded in 1967, discovered they are a 501(c)7 organization, meaning they cannot accept donations. This prompted them to create a platform to support local nonprofits struggling to recruit volunteers since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Organizations like the Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center, which has experienced difficulties attracting volunteers, will be among the participants. The fair aims to increase visibility and support for these community institutions.

The "fair" outreach by RNN is a new flex. Up until now, the group's most popular activity has been a monthly "giant potluck" held at a member's home. Other activities have included movie nights, a book club, summer barbecue and a Christmas party.

The inaugural Ridgefield Neighbors and Newcomers Nonprofit Fair will lean heavy into the arts, as befits the first town in Connecticut with a designated cultural district. Look for appearances by the Ridgefield Chorale, the Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance, the Ridgefield Playhouse, the Ridgefield Theater Barn, the Ridgefield Guild of Artists, and A.C.T. of Connecticut. Other non-profits salted to attend can be found here.

The Nonprofit Fair reflects Ridgefield's distinctive community spirit, characterized by a vibrant local Main Street and residents who are deeply committed to their town's character, according to Brakenwagen.