Community Connections - Success Stories

Taren – The Crayola Factory
As a volunteer at the Crayola Factory in Easton, Taren works with hundreds of children every day.  Taren’s shy and quiet demeanor disappears once she puts on her volunteer smock and starts handing out craft projects to the children.  This wasn’t always the case.  When Taren started volunteering, she was shy and rarely talked to anyone other than her Via Community Coach.  But over the past two years, Taren’s sense of independence has grown and so has her confidence.

Now she readily initiates conversations with other volunteers and interacts with staff, her volunteer director and the children and families at the Crayola Factory.  She often tells her friends and family about her volunteer work and how much she likes volunteering.  And the staff at Crayola has taken notice.  Taren is often asked to help on side projects that aren’t a part of her normal responsibilities and is asked to cover breaks for other volunteers.

Taren was recently recognized with The Crayola Factory 2007 Spirit of Volunteerism Award.  Because of her dedication, style and grace, the Crayola Factory considers Taren an asset to their volunteer team.  Taren’s sense of independence has grown and so has her confidence.  She is a valuable member of her team, giving of her time to support the community and working with hundreds of children every day.

Alan – Chamber of Commerce, Meals on Wheels, Boys & Girls Club
When Alan started working with Community Connections, he wasn’t interested in trying anything new.  He was focused on his routine and didn’t want to do anything to alter his daily activities.  He often refused to go to volunteer sites and wouldn’t talk with his peers or other volunteers.

Fast forward to today and you can catch Alan at any number of community sites volunteering with his friends.  Instead of declining volunteer opportunities, Alan requests certain sites that involve activities he enjoys most like clerical work and any site that involves working around other people.

Alan is part of a team and initiates conversation with friends and other volunteers – he’s no longer satisfied to be on the side lines.  His sense of humor has flourished and he’s always ready to joke around with his friends and other volunteers with one of his one-liners.

One of Alan’s volunteer sites, Meals on Wheels, involves interaction with other community members on a consistent basis and Alan jokes with the customers at every stop.  Alan continues to develop communication and other life skills needed for independent living and through Community Connections has developed bonds and relationships within his community.

For more information or to register, please contact:
Lisa Musselman, Via Community Connections Director
L.Musselman@ViaNet.org | 610-317-8000 x431