Apr 17

Volunteering, a Reciprocal Relationship Built Around Kindness

While volunteers have always been important to Springwell’s mission, Karen Chisholm, Volunteer Program Manager notes that the COVID shutdown in 2020 led to a new outpouring of support. Everyone understood the hardship of isolation and loneliness. Many people wanted to help others and do something about potentially lonely neighbors, especially those who were older. During […]

Dec 05

photo of Home delivered meals volunteer with Nutrition Supervisor

Annual Fundraiser Inspires Year-Round Gift of Time and Service

VJ Donnelly of Westborough first learned about the local Meals on Wheels program run by BayPath Elder Services through his work at MetroWest Subaru in Natick. When he joined the company, he took the lead to make Subaru of America’s annual Share the Love campaign as successful as possible. Through Share the Love, Donnelly became […]

May 04

Springwell Board Member, Yolanda Rodriguez

Board Profile: Yolanda Rodriguez

Yolanda Rodriguez, a native of Brookline and longtime Math teacher and department head in Wellesley Public Schools, thrives in retirement by learning new things. The civic-minded Rodriguez is finishing her third and final 3-year term on Springwell’s Board of Directors. A number of years ago, she attended exercise classes at the Brookline Council on Aging […]

Apr 21

image of Spotlight focused on the words Springwell Volunteers for Volunteer Appreciation on J

Shining a Spotlight on the Difference Volunteers Make

As a nonprofit, Springwell depends on volunteers as one of our most valuable resources to support delivery of our programs. We are fortunate to have eight volunteer programs serving our communities: Friendly Visitors, Shopping Assistants, Medical Escorts, Office Support workers, Home Delivered Meals Drivers, Congregate Dining Assistants, Money Managers and Ombudsmen. While we always appreciate […]

Oct 25

Home Delivered Meals driver delivering meal to recipient

Springwell Needs Home-Delivered Meals Drivers

What does a warm, nutritious meal mean to you? It makes your taste buds happy, fills your growling stomach and may be a time when you gather with family or friends to socialize around the table. As children, many of us thought these meals magically appeared but as adults we know the work that goes [...]

Oct 14

photo of volunteer ombudsman in honor or Residents' Rights Month

Volunteer Spotlight for Residents’ Rights Month

October is Residents Rights Month. Springwell’s volunteer ombudsmen make a difference in the lives of residents of long term care facilities. Ombudsmen are highly trained and supervised volunteers who visit a residential facility at least weekly and are available to hear concerns in confidence, advocate to protect residents’ rights, and provide information and referrals. As […]

May 01

woman in apartment building lobby delivering meals to older adults

A Year of Volunteer Meal Deliveries

Springwell’s Home Delivered Meals program faced severe staffing challenges when employment programs closed under the emergency order in March 2020. People like Eugenie Coakley swiftly answered Springwell’s call for volunteer drivers one year ago and have kept the home-delivered meal program on the road ever since. We asked Eugenie about her experiences. “People always appreciate […]

Apr 22

Helping People is my Focus

Adele is a long time, volunteer member of the compassionate Springwell team dedicated to ensuring that older adults in our community get the help and support they need and want. She began her career doing clinical testing as a psychometrist at several universities in New England and at MA Mental Health. After earning a master’s […]