Volunteers of All Ages are Making an Incredible Impact

Aug 16, 2016 | UA News

Article and photos by Urban Alliance staff.

Throughout Greater Hartford, there are people working hard to run food pantries, after-school programs, community health screening events, pregnancy resource centers, donation centers, schools, transitional living homes and other programs, to help people receive the support and resources they need to be healthy and whole. 

And, right there with them are hundreds of volunteers who have been matched to their programs through Urban Alliance’s volunteer program, UAServe.

From January to June of this year, 315 volunteers, ranging in age from two to 87, contributed  2,192 hours of service  to Urban Alliance or programs and services run by organization in the Urban Alliance network, which is  valued at  $50,569.44.

These volunteers helped strengthen and increase the impact of local health, children and youth, and basic needs programs that are helping people achieve lasting change in their lives through Urban Alliance initiatives.

If you’d like to make an impact by volunteering through UAServe, contact Rosa McGuire, Urban Alliance’s Volunteer Manager, at rosa.mcguire@urbanalliance.com or browse available volunteer opportunities by clicking here.

Thank you, volunteers!

See the full UAServe Mid-Year Report, with photos and impact stories, by clicking here!

The staff at Urban Alliance are familiar with Pastor Frank because he is a regular attendee to many of the trainings Urban Alliance provides on subjects like domestic violence, addressing childhood trauma, and better counseling techniques. “That’s been so valuable to me to be able to bring that back, not only in my counseling but also in my teaching and preaching ministries, “ shared Termine.

Pastor Frank was also one of the original members of the Micah group, a group of pastors that meets at Urban Alliance to discuss and strategize about challenging issues that face the church today. One of those earlier discussions on justice, incarceration, and returning citizens was particularly memorable. “We all lamented the fact that these men and women were coming out of prison into our churches and just kind of being thrown there,” said Termine, “We could do better than this.” That discussion planted the seeds that eventually led to the creation of Second Chance Churches – an opportunity for churches to provide support and mentoring to returning citizens that continues today.

When we asked Pastor Frank what he would say to another church that was unaware of Urban Alliance, he said, “If you are looking to get out in the community and make a difference in the community, Urban Alliance is a super way to do it. We’re a small church … we can’t do everything. Urban Alliance is a pathway to get our people involved in ministries that are already doing it, doing it well, and just need extra volunteers.”

Pastor Frank Termine’s story embodies many things we are trying to accomplish at Urban Alliance: supporting organizations in the communities they serve with training, resources, and opportunities to make a difference. Pastors and non-profit leaders face a wide range of challenges and, therefore, need a wide range of help and resources. Your support can help turn stories of struggle into stories like you find at Calvary Church.

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