In the Spirit of the Season

The Arc Rockland Volunteers Give Back

Dozens of volunteers from The Arc regularly deliver food to approximately 100 home bound seniors through Meals on Wheels each week. This year, 30 volunteers are hand-crafting holiday cards to deliver along with the meals.

“For some of the recipients of Meals on Wheels, this will be the only holiday card they receive,” says Dorann Latarski, a Team Leader with The Arc Rockland. It is rewarding for the volunteers from the Arc to see the smiles on the faces of people when they hand them the cards.”

Throughout the spring and summer, volunteers from The Arc assist the New Jersey Botanical Garden (NJBG) located in Ringwood, NJ, by helping to weed and mulch. With the gardening season over, the volunteers recently pitched in to decorate NJBG’s Skyland Manor at the Botanical garden in time for their annual Holiday Open House.

“We strung pine cones and attached ribbons around them to be used as tree ornaments,” explains volunteer Catherine O’Keefe. “It was exciting to see our decorations and hear people say, ‘What a beautiful tree’.”

During a recent fundraiser for The Rockland Rowing Association volunteers from The Arc helped to sell pies at The Palisades Mall. “Some people bought pies to take home to their families. But, we offered customers the opportunity to donate pies to Soup Angels, a Nyack organization that provides free meals to people in need,” notes Bryan Connelly The Arc Coordinator of Community Connections. “More than 20 people chose to donate their pies which The Arc volunteers then delivered to Soup Angels.

“Giving back to the community is an ongoing tradition at The Arc,” says Mr. Connelly. “The individuals who rely on this agency for services and supports volunteer at more than 100 not-for-profit organizations throughout the year. Still, there is something especially meaningful when we volunteer during this season. Bringing happiness to others is a great way to celebrate the holidays.”