Annika Khurana, Executive Editor
@akhuranacourant
Though the holiday season has come to a close, the spirit of giving continues with year-round opportunities to give back to the community at the Waveny Care Center and New Canaan Thrift Shop as a volunteer. Whether one is looking for a rewarding after school activity in fashion or hopes to pursue a career in medicine, there truly is a role for everyone within the Waveny LifeCare Network.
According to Executive Director of Community Engagement and Volunteering Stella Clarke, Waveny and the Thrift Shop are always open to new volunteers and even high school interns in the spring. “We try to be as creative as we can with the opportunities we give you,” Ms. Clarke said.
The Waveny staff team comes up with weekly and monthly schedules to keep residents engaged, featuring activities like balloon tennis, as well as seasonal activities, such as summer barbecues and gingerbread house decorating in the winter. “We loved having people from the community come in to celebrate Christmas and Hannukah with us,” Ms. Clarke said. “We had a party on December 22 for both the Village, which is our assisted living with memory care, and for the Care Center.”
Volunteering opportunities are very flexible and can range from assisting with everyday activities in the Therapeutic Recreation Center to playing a musical instrument in the Village. “It came to me as an inspiration one day that perhaps I should learn how to play the harp,” Waveny volunteer, chaplain, and clinical musician Annie Hartigan said. “I’ve been playing for about ten years.”
For aspiring musical volunteers, something to consider is the ability to take song requests from patients and staff. “The patients often request music, so I’ve had to be very flexible and try to offer them what they want to hear. When I do play a song that they know, they’ll start to sing and that’s very healthy for an older person,” Ms. Hartigan said.
The New Canaan Thrift Shop is also a part of the Waveny LifeCare Network, as all funds go towards helping people in the community get healthcare such as hospice or homecare. “A way to help the thrift shop would be to follow us on Instagram or Facebook, share our posts, go and shop, and encourage your friends to donate,” Ms. Clarke said. “If you really love fashion, the environment, and sustainability then you could think about visiting and maybe becoming a volunteer there.”
Sophomore Ava Licata is a volunteer at the Thrift Shop and recently started a student-run thrift club. “Recently, the Thrift Club made a trip to the local New Canaan Thrift Shop. We learned about the history of the building, how the shop remains organized whilst being volunteer run, and did a bit of shopping,” Ava said. “Those who attended the trip were also able to sign up for volunteer shifts at the shop.”
The opportunities as a volunteer within the Waveny LifeCare Network are virtually endless and can be tailored to specific interests, whether that be fashion, music, or simply building connections with different generations. “You bring your presence to the situation and that truly is your gift,” Ms. Hartigan said.
