While we all breathe a collective sigh of relief that one of our toughest winters is finally over, I think it important to note how a community can come together in times of stress. I am the executive director of Newton at Home, a volunteer-driven membership organization that makes it possible for Newton seniors to remain in their own homes as they age. This winter, I was incredibly impressed by the many “acts of loving kindness” our volunteers performed that enabled our members to stay safe, warm and well nourished even during the worst of it.

There were several memorable calls for help. An elderly couple was out of food and stranded in their home perched on a steep hill. We asked them to dictate a grocery list to one of our volunteers who bought every item. Then a second volunteer carried the shopping bags up the hill to the house.  Another member was concerned about icicles on her roof.  We dispatched a volunteer, armed with a roof rake, who knocked down as many as he could.  While he was there, he discovered that her clothes dryer vent was blocked by 2 feet of snow and cleared it, preventing what could have been a potentially dangerous situation.

Many volunteers worked the phones in our office, helping staff respond to the hundreds of calls for rides to medical appointments, prescription pick-ups and referrals to snow and ice removal contractors. Through it all our volunteers remained flexible, calm, kind and reassuring, despite the fact that they were dealing with their own weather-related issues.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and office staff, I want to express our heartfelt appreciation to all the Newton at Home volunteers who assisted our members during this difficult time.

Their strong commitment to volunteerism is a testament to the neighborly spirit in our city.  We are all better for these many acts of loving kindness.

Maureen Grannan, R.N., M.S.

Executive Director

Newton at Home