Wesley Village in Shelton honors volunteers

Wesley Village volunteers gather for a group photo with staff during National Volunteer Week./Submitted photo

SHELTON - Wesley Village honored and recognized their dedicated team of volunteers with a week-long celebration during National Volunteer Week, April 10-16. 

The Wesley Village Campus (comprised of Crosby Commons Independent/Assisted Living Community, Wesley Heights Independent/Assisted Living Cottages and Apartments, Lifestyle Transitions Memory Care, and Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center) is proud to partner with 150 registered volunteers each year, ranging in ages from 14 to 104. 
On any given week, 100 active volunteers work in each of the three communities on campus, fostering caring relationships with residents, staff, and family members, and enriching the lives of those they serve. 
Celebrations for the special week culminated with a volunteer dinner, held at the campus on Wednesday. 

Volunteers honored at the dinner included residents, employees, and members of the greater community. Those who had reached 100 (or more) hours of volunteer service were presented with a special appreciation gift. 

Barbara Quinn, who worked as Director of Volunteer Services at Wesley Village for the past 17 years, was also honored for her many contributions to the campus. Quinn, who officially retired this month, was hired in 1998 to create and develop a thriving volunteer program at Wesley Village, which included as many as 230 registered volunteers and 26 registered resident volunteers through the years. 
Successful programs Quinn helped to implement included the Wesley Village Prayer Shawl Ministry, Life Stories, Hands of Comfort, Pet Therapy, Music and Memory, Sign Language, Email Correspondence, the TEAM Festival of Trees/Wesley Village Craft Fair, and more. 

“I have so many fond memories of my time here at Wesley Village,” Quinn said. “Watching student volunteers build relationships with our residents and grow in self-confidence through the process has been one of my favorite parts of working in Volunteer Services. Volunteering has so many mutual benefits for every generation.” 
Quinn’s plans for her time after retirement still include Wesley Village. “I plan on following the good example of our volunteers and volunteering weekly with the Prayer Shawl Ministry.” 

Before taking the director position at Wesley Village, Quinn also worked as the Volunteer Supervisor at Griffin Hospital for 10 years. 
Throughout her career she also served on the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club for eight years, the Advisory Board of the Volunteer Action Center (United Way), the Advisory Board for the New England Association of Directors of Healthcare/Volunteer Services – Education Committee, and with the CT Association for Healthcare Resource Professionals).  
She was also honored with several local, state, and national awards including the 2014 President’s Award (Derby-Shelton Rotary Club), the 2010 CAPE Award for Professional Excellence and the 2004 Dove Award. 

Reflecting on her experience at Wesley Village, Quinn said, “I have been blessed to have worked with such a caring and compassionate team of staff and volunteers who support and continually demonstrate what it means to enrich the lives of our residents. I have seen firsthand the difference you can make in someone else’s life.”

For more information about volunteer opportunities at Wesley Village, contact the Office of Mission Development at 203-925-4952 or visit www.wesleyvillage-ct.org. 

Wesley Village is located at 580 Long Hill Ave., and is owned and operated by United Methodist Homes, a mission-based, not-for-profit organization serving all members of the community.

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.