Question 3: What has been your most rewarding volunteer service experience, in or out of Verona, and why?
Donna Cannizzaro: Verona’s strength comes from within a caring, compassionate, community that boasts a broad range of volunteers involved with new and ongoing opportunities. Our volunteer force continually nourishes Verona. Residents of all ages volunteer whether it’s on our Fire and Rescue Squads, Lions Club, Junior Women’s Club and Jaycees, the Chamber of Commerce, local sports groups, special events for residents suffering a misfortune, as well as for advocacy groups of environmental, historical and preservation, town committees, school and church activities, all, at one time or another have given time and resources. You’ll find volunteerism in happy times and in times of need and volunteerism does not discriminate. In the past two years, Verona has sponsored “Volunteer Nights” where residents learned of many opportunities available.
We all give and receive at varying times in our lives. We give when we can, where we can, what we can. We hope, the pendulum doesn’t swing against us where we would need to rely on some of our life-saving and life-changing services; but comforted by their very existence and know community support is always available. Even the emergency horn lends comfort to know that our Police and volunteer first responders are on the way.
As a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Verona and donate to many of their programs, including, when I was downsizing, numerous useful household items for their rummage sale. I am a past Member of the Verona Junior Women’s Club and the youth group of Eastern Star/Masons, Caldwell Lodge. I regularly contribute to our local service providers in thanks and recognition for the life-saving services they provide. I am hopeful that all residents recognize that without their donations to some of the life-saving volunteer organizations, Verona’s taxes would be substantially higher. Through group participation with my employers, I’ve built bicycles for children, packed care packages for natural disaster survivors, walked for national-sponsored events for various cancer research programs.
The most rewarding, but humbling moments I’ve experienced over the years are when I go directly to a (Family Services) shelter in the Newark/East Orange area and bring items to women and their young children who were in abusive environments and beginning to transition out on their own. Sometimes the shelter calls me to ask if I have anything to donate and if I don’t, I go straight to a store, buy a few laundry baskets and fill them with useful items for the moms and kids. A couple of little girls had pretty little Easter dresses to wear; Holiday times bring many toys and other needed items. One year, I had achieved a milestone of 25 years at my company and the reward was a luncheon or a check. I donated my check of just under $1000 to the shelter. can go directly to the shelter, bring my treasures, with immediate and measurable assistance to the women and their children starting their new life.
Awareness – Appeal – Advertise. We need to raise more awareness of these opportunities and appeal to the untapped resources in Verona. As we move through our lives, we find new focus and perhaps recognize the time has come to give time and resources in order to support another gem of Verona, our service organizations.
