Newtown Nonprofit Council conducted its virtual monthly meeting on December 20, and introduced members to a new project it is launching in 2022.

C.H. Booth Library Director Douglas Lord started off the meeting with its News & Notes agenda item where attendees were able to share what their organizations have been up to in town.

Steve Bennett, of the Salvation Army, voiced that this year’s bell ringing campaign has been “very successful.”

The group had an abundance of first-time volunteers, as well as local dignitaries and members of the Newtown High School Leo’s Club, support the charity.

Newtown Historical Society member Melissa Houston said that open houses for her nonprofit have wrapped up and will resume in March. She also mentioned that Newtown Historical Society has applied for two grants that will help with digitizing its extensive collection.

Jennifer Guman, of Edmond Town Hall, spoke to Houston that she would love to feature a program with Newtown Historical Society about the history of Edmond Town Hall. She added that for next year’s second grade school tours in town, it would be nice to coordinate something together to have cohesiveness.

Also at the meeting was Lions Club member Katherine Simpson. She let the council members know that this year’s vintage Mustang was raffled off and the group is looking to raffle a new/almost new Mustang for next year.

“The search is on. We’re looking for that car right now,” she said.

Ivy Pearson, of Hearts of Hope, spoke about a recent event her group hosted at Newtown Senior Center that had full attendance. She looks forward to more painting party opportunities, so more people can participate.

Economic & Community Development Deputy Director Christal Preszler said that her department is considering having its shopping and restaurant week in February of next year. Another event being considered is a networking party for home-based businesses for some time in early 2022.

Acts Of Service

Sarah Patafio, reference assistant and volunteer hub project manager for C.H. Booth Library, announced that Newtown Nonprofit Council will be conducting an Acts of Service project to take place all throughout 2022.

The idea is to inspire more nonprofits and volunteers to join “Get Connected, Newtown” — a platform the library was able to create through Galaxy Digital Get Connected thanks to the Jeniam Foundation.

Patafio suggested they can make it the “100 Acts of Service” initiative. She assessed that if each of their current 27 organizations on the site hosted at least four volunteer events throughout the year, then 100 would be a doable goal.

“There are so many things we can do,” she said about the project.

Patafio asked for the group’s thoughts on her suggestion of making 100 the goal number, to which Tripp Killin, of the Jeniam Foundation, said he thinks they could make it 500 or 1,000.

Houston noted that she thought 100 would be doable.

Simpson voiced, “I think we can do way more than 100.”

There was discussion about how the goal should be inspiring and can ultimately create healthy competition between groups to achieve the most acts of service opportunities.

With that in mind, Killin said he would be interested in giving out a prize and formally recognizing the organization that achieves the highest ranking.

It was decided that it will be the “1,000 Acts of Service,” and they all can discuss the initiative in more detail during a meeting on January 10.

Patafio will also work to contact additional groups to get more involvement with the project and on the volunteer site.

There will be a public meeting on January 21 at 2 pm for more nonprofits to learn more about the “1,000 Acts of Service” initiative.

To contact Sarah Patafio with questions about the service initiative or the volunteer site, e-mail spatafio@chboothlibrary.org. To create an account on Get Connected, Newtown, visit newtownnc.galaxydigital.com.

Reporter Alissa Silber can be reached at alissa@thebee.com.