District Attorney Sutter to Conduct 6th Annual Community Volunteer Fair
June 2, 2014
On Saturday June 7th, District Attorney Sam Sutter’s Office will conduct its 6th Annual Volunteer Fair, inviting members of the public to learn about different volunteer opportunities throughout the community. In collaboration with SouthCoast Serves and the Dartmouth Mall, the Volunteer Fair is open to the public and will be held from 12:00PM – 3:00PM inside the Dartmouth Mall, located at 200 Dartmouth Mall, Dartmouth, MA 02747.
District Attorney Sutter’s Volunteer Fair emphasizes his belief that a commitment to service builds stronger communities. In addition, youth reap benefits from volunteers who serve as role models, empowering them to make positive choices and making them less likely to engage in delinquent behavior.
In October 2007, District Attorney Sutter began encouraging volunteerism with the launch a unique Volunteer Initiative within his office stating, “Prevention and prosecution go hand in hand to make our community safer.” Through this initiative, staff have contributed more than 19,000 hours of volunteer service in organizations of their choosing before and after work hours. To name a few, staff are involved in mentoring, coaching and tutoring, annual participation in city-wide clean-ups, and individual and office-wide commitments to providing donations and services to those in need. In addition, staff volunteer at numerous office-sponsored free sports clinics throughout the year. Since 2007, more than 4,400 children have participated in 68 clinics led by 1,426 total volunteers.
Seeking to extend the value of service beyond the office, District Attorney Sutter hopes that members of the community will attend the Volunteer Fair and take an interest in volunteering. “I hope to inspire others, not only those in the DA’s Office, but others to volunteer to improve our communities and make them safer,” District Attorney Sutter says.
More than thirty agencies will be present to staff information tables, answer questions, and assist persons to sign up with various volunteer opportunities. By engaging a diverse group of exhibitors, attendees are invited to see that there are volunteer opportunities that suit every interest – from working with youth, to assisting the elderly, watering trees, growing farm-fresh food for the hungry, and helping animals in shelters.
Some of the organizations include: AHA! New Bedford; Battleship Cove; Big Brothers Big Sisters; Bristol County Regional Coalition for Suicide Prevention; Buzzards Bay Coalition; Coastline Elderly Services; DrugFree NB; Forever Paws; Friends of Buttonwood Park; Gifts to Give; Mercy Meals & More; Operation Clean Sweep; Samaritans of Fall River & New Bedford; Sharing the Harvest Community Farm; SMILES Mentoring; United Way of Greater New Bedford; YWCA of Southeastern Massachusetts; and others. *An extended list can be found on the event flyer included with this release.
Members of the media are invited to attend and speak with volunteer providers and members of District Attorney Sutter’s office about their volunteer experiences.
Contacts:
Gregg Miliote Director of Communications 508-997-0711 774-292-9576-after hours Ashley Bendiksen Social Media Manager 508-997-0711 774-929-5614—after hours