Volunteers pg 1 7-28-11
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Volunteers
Laura G. Mercurio, 34, with two of her daughters, Jara, 16, and Lydia, 13. They are regular volunteers at Daily Bread in Putnam. Courtesy photo.
PUTNAM — Donations from generous Quiet Corner citizens are a key element of Daily Bread but, perhaps even more important to the maintenance of this extraordinary organization, are the volunteers who not only ensure that day-to-day operations carry on, but also put a human stamp on what can sometimes be a dehumanizing experience.
Laura G. Mercurio, 34, lives in Putnam with her husband and their five children. Once the recipient of assistance services, she is humbled to be able to provide aid, advice and comfort to those in need, “I used to be these people that I see,” she said. “People just have trouble pulling it together.”
Mercurio wears many hats at Daily Bread and has been volunteering two or three times a week, steadily, for almost two years. She often brings her teenaged children with her in an effort to pass along the value of community service. Four-year-old Joe occasionally visits the basement food pantry and used to happily munch on Cheerios while his mom patiently folded donations for The Clothing Closet.
While many service organizations struggle to maintain a staff of dedicated volunteers, Interfaith Human Services of Putnam rarely has trouble finding team members to help work with clients, arrange food, catalogue diapers, clip coupons or just lend an ear. Mercurio said there are many reasons why Daily Bread volunteers are such a dedicated group of individuals, placing much of the “blame” on the shoulders of volunteer coordinator Kathi Peterson. “She has confidence in me,” Mercurio said. “She knows I can do it. She’s one of the most loving and nurturing people that I know besides my own mom.”
In addition to a great support system, Mercurio said that there’s a great deal of personal satisfaction to be had from taking care of your fellow man, “You never know it’s just one of those things. I don’t believe that there’s such a thing as a pure gift. You always get something back ... a feeling of accomplishment, of knowing it’s more than just you on this earth.”
If you’d like to volunteer with Laura Mercurio and the others who serve their community with Interfaith Services of Putnam, please call (860)-963-0169. If you’re pressed for time and would like to donate, monetary donations, disposable diapers (and coupons), gently used clothing, and nonperishable food items are always greatly appreciated if you are in a position to give rather than receive. IHSP has several “drop” locations throughout the community or donations can be sent to: P.O. Box 281, Putnam, CT 06260. Located at Daily Bread, inside the basement of the Living Faith United Methodist Church, 51 Grove St., IHSP is open Monday and Friday, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and Wednesday, 6 to 7 p.m. Call 963-0169 for assistance. Visit www.nectinterfaith.org for more information.