Annual Community Volunteer Fair This Saturday in Downtown New Bedford
On Saturday October 24th, District Attorney Thomas Quinn’s Office will conduct its 7th Annual Volunteer Fair, inviting members of the public to learn about different volunteer opportunities throughout the community. This year’s event will be unlike any other held in the past, as the district attorney’s office will be partnering with the annual Connecting for Change National Conference held in New Bedford to make sure thousands of area residents have the opportunity to connect with an organization in need of volunteers.
The Volunteer Fair is free and open to the public, and will be held from 11:00 am – 3:00 PM inside the VIP Lounge at the Zeiterion Theater (684 Purchase Street), while the annual Connecting for Change conference is also taking place at the historic site in downtown New Bedford.
District Attorney Quinn’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, former District Attorney C. Samuel Sutter began encouraging volunteerism with the launch a unique Volunteer Initiative within his office.
District Attorney Quinn, who served as former DA Sutter’s top deputy prosecutor from 2007 through his appointment as district attorney early this year, is a strong supporter of volunteerism and mentors a youth at a local school every week.
Through the Volunteer Initiative, which District Attorney Quinn chose to continue, staff have contributed more than 23,000 hours of volunteer service in organizations of their choosing before and after work hours during the past eight years. Staff at the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office 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 4,600 children have participated in 70 clinics.
Seeking to extend the value of service beyond the office, District Attorney Quinn fervently believes that prevention and prosecution go hand in hand to make our community safer. The district attorney is urging members of the community to take advantage of this unique opportunity to make a real difference in the community where we live and work and raise our families.
More than 25 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: The American Red Cross, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Big Friends/Little Friends, Bristol County Regional Coalition for Suicide Prevention, Citizens for Citizens Retired Seniors Volunteer Program, Coastline Elderly Services, Dartmouth Lions Club, Dog Tag Navigators, Drug Free New Bedford, Forever Paws Animal Shelter, Friends of Buttonwood Park, My Brother’s Keeper, New Bedford Whaling Museum, Operation Clean Sweep, The City of New Bedford, Our Sister’s School, PACE Inc., Samaritans of Bristol County, Sharing the Harvest Community Farm, YMCA, SMILES Mentoring, SouthCoast Serves, Steward Home Care, The Trustees, Youth Court, YWCA, Veterans Transition House, The WOmen’s Fund, Battleship Cove, Gifts to Give, Junior Achievement of Southeastern Massachusetts, and the United Way of Greater New Bedford.
Members of the media are invited to attend and speak with volunteer providers and members of District Attorney Quinn’s office about their volunteer experiences.
Contacts:
Gregg Miliote
Director of Communications
508-997-0711
774-292-9576-after hours