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MORE NEWS
TIS THE SEASON TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
December 28, 2009
Norwalk Citizen News
Made from the heart
Click on any image to see an enlargement!
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
volunteers have been knitting all year to provide hats,
mittens and scarves for the children at the Norwalk Economic
Opportunity Now Child Development Program.
Last week program director Teri Klein delivered the items to
183 preschoolers at the Ben Franklin site and 328 pre-schoolers
at the Nathaniel Ely site. In addition handcrafted quilts
were delivered to some 15 other local agencies including
Mid-Fairfield Hospice, Family and Children's Agency and the
Domestic Violence Crisis Center.
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Zyare Bradley, Marcos Chacon, Uriel Navarro |
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Eric Vazquez |
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Miriam Vazque, Dajia Williams |
"About 50 volunteers knit for us year round. There is a
group at Kingsway in Norwalk, the Norwalk senior Center, and
Westport Women's Club, among others," explained Klein. "At
the holidays, we give the things they knitted to the
children.
"The children really look forward to these hats, mittens and
scarves because the volunteers handmade them especially for
these children. The kids get a lot of things donated to them
over the holidays, but the fact that these are created by
somebody for them is really special."
And the volunteers get something out of knitting too.
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Nyjier Covington |
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Raquel Funes, Mark Moono |
"They
love it. It's a good social event for them. And it's good
for them physically and mentally," Klein said. "They feel
really good about giving the things to the kids. When they
see the photos of the kids getting their things, to actually
see the product of all your hard work actually being used in
the community, it makes it really meaningful to them."
Some of the wool is donated by NEON Child Development
program, people in the community and a grant through the
Wal-Mart foundation. Klein said the RSVP volunteers are
always looking for donations. And more volunteers are always
welcome as well.
She also said next year RSVP is expanding the program and
volunteers will teach knitting to the older children in
NEON's after school program. To find out information,
call Teri Klein at (203) 663-7331.
SENIOR TRANSPORTATION VOLUNTEERS HONORED
November 4, 2009
Volunteers for the RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer
Program) Medical Transportation group were honored today at
a ceremony at the Westport Center for Senior Activities. The
group collaborates with Westport/Weston United Way to
provide volunteer medical transportation services for
seniors of the two towns. Westport First Selectman Gordon F,
Joseloff handed out certificates of appreciation and joined
the volunteers for a group photo (photos provided by
Westport Now)
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Barbara Culp (right), volunteer
coordinator of the RSVP Medical Transportation
Program and Teri Klein, director of RSVP of SW
CT are slicing the cake at the Volunteer
Recognition reception.
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Gordon Joseoff ,first selectman
of Westport shares a moment with Barbara Butler,
director of Westport Department of Human
Services before presenting certificates of
appreciation to RSVP volunteer drivers and
dispatchers. In the past year RSVP
volunteers have contributed over 2700 hours of
service transporting seniors in need of rides
to over 700 medical appointments. |
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left to right: Barbara
Stemmer, Dispatcher, Barbara Culp , program
coordinator, Joy Leighton, Dispatcher, Susanne
Lebrija, Westport Department of Human Services. |
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RSVP drivers
and their wives enjoy the festivities.
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CITY PARTICIPATES IN FIRST OFFICIAL 9/11 DAY OF SERVICE AND
REMEMBRANCE
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Lisandro Orias receives info from
Mary Bones-Angeloni |
Norwalk Citizen Newspaper, Norwalk, CT
September 11, 2009
In tribute to the
sacrifices made by the heroes of September 11, 2001, and in
recognition of the nation’s first official September 11 Day
of Service and Remembrance, several local agencies have
joined forces for a day of service.
Titled the Emergency Preparedness Awareness Project,
the event to take place in Norwalk is just one of thousands
of grassroots service projects to take place across the
nation in honor of September 11. Citizens across the United
States will take the day to remember where they were on
September 11, 2001 and will come together to serve in memory
of the victims and heroes of that day.
The Norwalk event
will be held at NEON at 98 South Main Street, on
Friday, September 11th from 9:30 AM to Noon and will
include a demonstration given by CCA and RSVP volunteers
designed to educate the public in ways to be prepared in the
event of a natural or man-made disaster. Information will be
available in English and Spanish and a variety of emergency
supplies will be available for attendees.
The catalyst for September 11th officially becoming a ‘Day
of Service and Remembrance’ was the Edward M. Kennedy Serve
America Act, which President Obama signed this past April.
The intent of the bill is to encourage Americans, in
recognition of the tragedy of September 11, to join together
in service projects across all fifty states and to re-commit
to serving their communities
RSVP, CCA, and
NEON, in cooperation with the Norwalk Fire Department’s
Office of Emergency Management, are hopeful that in addition
to the somber and symbolic nature of the event, it will also
serve the useful purpose of getting the city of Norwalk as
close as possible to its height of readiness in case of
emergency.
For additional local volunteer
opportunities contact Nancy Pratt, RSVP Outreach
Coordinator, at 663-7332,
www.respswct.org or Joy
Romeo, CCA Volunteer Coordinator, at 203-899-2485,
www.ccanorwalk.org.
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Above:
Joan Weinstein reading |
READ TO PRE-SCHOOLERS AT NEON CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Reading aloud to young children is very important! It
encourages literacy skills and teaches them a love of books.
Help children learn that reading brings enjoyment and
information. Make a difference in their future, and have fun
doing it! Spend as little as one hour per week reading to
pre-schoolers in their classrooms.
Tennis and
Tutoring in Norwalk
Article appeared 8/27/2009 in The Hour
The Norwalk
Grassroots Tennis is currently running a summer program at the Roodner
Court tennis courts, behind Nathaniel Ely School on Ingalls Ave. In
addition to the children receiving tennis instruction, there is also a
very structured tutoring component to the program. While waiting their
turn to play tennis, the kids spend 15-20 minutes with a volunteer
tutor, working on reading or math skills.
Area seniors have also gotten involved through RSVP, the Retired &
Senior Volunteer Program. RSVP joins a national initiative that promotes
community service to address local needs. RSVP Advisory Board member
Sally Grose is the Educational Coordinator for Norwalk Grassroots
Tennis. Because of this connection, a number of RSVP
volunteers have been helping out by tutoring the children.
This makes for a very workable intergenerational program.
Norwalk Grassroots Tennis has been in existence for 15
years. For additional information please
visit
www.norwalkgrassrootstennis.com.
This program will continue throughout the school year.
RSVP is looking for volunteers to assist one or two hours a
week to teach a program that focuses on life skills.
Please phone us at 663-7332.
RSVP Honors its Volunteers
 RSVP honored its
many volunteers with a luncheon at
Giovanni's Restaurant on May 14, 2009. Welcome and greetings were
presented by Teri Klein, RSVP Project Director; Joseph Mann,
Executive Director, NEON, Inc.; and Mayor Richard Moccia of
Norwalk. Invocation was by Rev. Janet Hodge, Pastor
Norwalk United Methodist Church, Vice Chairperson, NEON
Board of Directors.
Please take a look at the pictures of the event, including volunteers in
attendance, those being honored, and musical performers.
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Rosa
Sanchez reads "The Bad Beginning" to Reading
Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) certified
therapy dog, Brasil, during the East Norwalk
Public Library's D2R2, Dogs to Read to program
Saturday. |
Norwalk Citizen News,
Friday, April 3, 2009
Editorial: Creating a city of readers
To draw in young readers is also the goal of a new program being offered
across the city at the East Norwalk Library. Beginning later this month,
small groups of children will have the chance to take turns reading to
specially trained dogs in the"D2R2 / Dogs to Read to" program. A similar
program is offered at the Rowayton Library.
The concept itself is not new. Many of the children chosen for this
program have difficulties reading and as a result have developed
self-esteem issues. They are often self-conscious when reading aloud in
front of other classmates. The dogs who listen to the young readers are
accompanied by their trained handlers to help children improve their
reading skills by providing a relaxed atmosphere. With the help of the
dogs, reading programs of this kind have shown to be effective in
building children's confidence in their own reading ability
and help them learn to love reading.
The East Norwalk Library "D2R2" comes as a result of an inquiry made by
Don Smith, whose dog, a Whippet named Brasil, has been engaging patients
at Stamford Hospital as a R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs)
Delta Certified, Animal Assisted Activity Dog, offering companionship to
help relieve stress and bring joy to the shut-ins. Smith reached out to
Teri Klein, program director of Retired Senior and Senior Volunteer
program of Southwestern Connecticut.
"I was impressed by the idea - to use Brasil, and other dogs to help
children read, and have an enriching experience," explained Klein in a
statement, and I suggested that Nancy Pratt, outreach coordinator, look
for a venue to mount such a program.
Siegel, who is also the East Norwalk Library executive director, was
approached by Pratt and immediately agreed that not only was the library
a perfect place, "but the timing couldn't be better."
"We had just completed inaugurating our children's library - the Terry
Rooney Room - and are now ready to offer special programs for children,"
Siegel explained in a statement.
The program will initially enable Saturday morning "sessions" with
either one-on-one, or small groups of children gathered to read to
Brasil.
It is expected that the first "D2R2" session will be on Saturday, April
11 from 10 a.m. to noon. To register, visit the library at 51 Van Zant
St., call 838-0498 ext. 100 or e-mail
mail@eastnorwalklibrary.org.
Read full article (PDF format)
Norwalk
Citizen News, Friday, April 3, 2009
Editorial: Creating a city of readers
To draw in young readers is also the goal of a new program
being offered across the city at the East Norwalk Library.
Beginning later this month, small groups of children will
have the chance to take turns reading to specially trained
dogs in the"D2R2 / Dogs to Read to" program. A similar
program is offered at the Rowayton Library.
The concept itself is not new. Many of the children chosen
for this program have difficulties reading and as a result
have developed self-esteem issues. They are often
self-conscious when reading aloud in front of other
classmates. The dogs who listen to the young readers are
accompanied by their trained handlers to help children
improve their reading skills by providing a relaxed
atmosphere. With the help of the dogs, reading programs of
this kind have shown to be effective in building children's
confidence in their own reading ability
and help them learn to love reading.
The East Norwalk Library "D2R2" comes as a result of an
inquiry made by Don Smith, whose dog, a Whippet named Brasil,
has been engaging patients at Stamford Hospital as a R.E.A.D.
(Reading Education Assistance Dogs) Delta Certified, Animal
Assisted Activity Dog, offering companionship to help
relieve stress and bring joy to the shut-ins. Smith reached
out to Teri Klein, program director of Retired Senior and
Senior Volunteer program of Southwestern Connecticut.
"I was impressed by the idea - to use Brasil, and other dogs
to help children read, and have an enriching experience,"
explained Klein in a statement, and I suggested that Nancy
Pratt, outreach coordinator, look for a venue to mount such
a program.
Siegel, who is also the East Norwalk Library executive
director, was approached by Pratt and immediately agreed
that not only was the library a perfect place, "but the
timing couldn't be better."
"We had just completed inaugurating our children's library -
the Terry Rooney Room - and are now ready to offer special
programs for children," Siegel explained in a statement.
The program will initially enable Saturday morning
"sessions" with either one-on-one, or small groups of
children gathered to read to Brasil.
It is expected that the first "D2R2" session will be on
Saturday, April 11 from 10 a.m. to noon. To register, visit
the library at 51 Van Zant St., call 838-0498 ext. 100 or
e-mail
mail@eastnorwalklibrary.org.
Read full
article (PDF format)
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Bazan Devallon |
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Nyla
Warburton, Camila Martinez, Jordyn Kidd, Dajah
Etienne |
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Sebastian Mendieta, Angel Partida, Adam Calle |
RSVP Volunteers Add
Warmth to the Season
More than 500 pre-school children from the NEON Child
Development Program will be warm this winter, thanks to RSVP
volunteers who have been knitting all year at the Norwalk
Senior Center , Kingsway and other community sites.
The Retired and Senior
Volunteer Program of Southwestern Connecticut (RSVP)
provided new hats, mittens and scarves to children from the
NEON pre-school program at Ben Franklin Center and the
Nathaniel Ely School. RSVP responds to a wide range of
community needs and programs for non-profit agencies and
organizations in our community.
Click on any photo to see
an enlargement.
Source:
Norwalk Citizen-News
Friday, Dec. 26, 2008
 Westporters
Bruce Allen and Barbara Culp were honored 10/17/08 with Service
to Older Adults Awards in a ceremony at the Westport Center
for Senior Activities. First Selectman Gordon F. Joseloff
presented citations to both winners. Culp was honored for
her extensive volunteer coordination of the RSVP volunteer
transportation service for seniors and Allen, chair of the
Y’s Men Community Service Committee, for his active
recruitment of volunteers to service the RSVP program.
full story
Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
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