Many teenagers want to volunteer.
Some hope to bulk up their transcript. Most have a genuine interest in expanding their horizons, giving back to the community, and doing something good for someone else.
But students have busy lives — and limited knowledge of the non-profit world. They seldom have the time, energy or ability to search out a cause that sounds interesting, then figure out how, when and where they can help.
Similarly, organizations looking for volunteers don’t have an easy way of finding them, communicating their needs, and scheduling their hours.
Until now.
Fittingly, the solution to those twin problems comes from a young person.
Jared Gordon
Jared Gordon is a lifelong Westporter. A senior at St. Luke’s School in New Canaan — where he is editor of the paper, a leader of the Finance and Civic Engagement Clubs, and whose internship experiences include an affordable housing group, Congressman Jim Himes and the Lansing, Michigan mayor’s office — he seems to have an overflowing plate already.
But Jared — whose volunteerism began in 8th grade, when he started a club to help with Clothes to Kids of Fairfield County‘s winter drive — found time for one more effort.
Two years ago, he reached out to other non-profits. His goal was to connect organizations with potential student volunteers.
Jared gathered information — on groups’ missions, and their needs (both general and specific). He created a website — called simply CARE — that makes connections easy and clear.
Nearly 20 signed up. They range from New Covenant Center and the Family & Children’s Agency to Earthplace, Food Rescue US an the Connecticut Institute or Refugees & Immigrants.
That was just the start.
Jared connected other schools, inviting them to join. A dozen or quickly did.
The Staples High School chapter — led by Dylan Johnson — is among the largest. At last month’s Involvement Fair, 75 students signed up.
Weston High School also has a chapter.
Already, CARE’s kids have clocked thousands of volunteer hours.
The enthusiasm from both sides has surprised even Jared.
“It’s a lot to ask students to give up their time,” he says. “But a lot of them say they love the organization they find. They’re meeting great people, and doing rewarding work.”
CARE volunteers, on the job at Pacific House in Stamford.
“It’s wonderful to know that I could just go online, open up a tab and put in a resource that is needed right then and there. and how quickly the response comes back,” says Lisa Habasinski, manager of community engagement at Family & Children’s Agency.
“It’s so important for the younger generation to realize that there’s a true need right in their own community, and that they’re able to do something either individually or as a group and give back. Partnering with CARE has been such an incredible opportunity for us.”
Jared graduates this spring. But at St. Luke’s and other schools, younger students are in the leadership pipeline, to continue the work.
That’s one more way that young people in Fairfield County volunteer. And CARE.
To learn more about CARE, click here.
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Awesome!! What a terrific and useful idea. Many kudos to a young man who will do great things in life ….
Awesome.
Also seems like a good spot to mention the continuing strength of SLOBs &, I assume, NCL, at Staples
CARE is an amazing organization that solves the problem many teens have when they want to volunteer but can’t figure out the best way to get involved. My son has volunteered at several organizations through CARE and those opportunities have been both rewarding and given him the chance to find organizations that are a good fit to work with further. It’s great to see CARE grow and expand its reach to so many schools and organizations.
I saw the snap shot of those eyes, and said that is Michael’s son! How could he not be a great citizen when his father gave countless hours to the BOE amoung other things! Way to pick up the torch!