By Tanjua Damon

Even the sun seemed to radiate kindness around Newtown over the weekend as volunteers from several organizations helped homeowners in need.

Newtown Youth Services conducted its fourth annual Independent Living Day, which is a program that helps senior citizens continue to live on their own with minimal help. Youth and adult volunteers worked on more than 20 homes during two two-hour sessions, cleaning windows, washing lawn furniture, raking leaves, removing branches, and planting flowers.

Two AmeriCares HomeFront Day projects were also tackled this weekend. In addition, volunteers from the Virgilius Council Knights of Columbus #185 from St Rose, the Newtown Congregational Church, and the Newtown Lions Club spent time painting, repairing roofs, building steps, and cleaning up yards for families in need. This is the 16th year for the AmeriCares weekend with the organization having completed approximately 2,000 projects.

“We do a lot of service projects like this throughout the year,” Jud Doyle of the Knights of Columbus said. “It’s great. It’s one of things that brought me into the Knights, to do these kinds of things.”

The projects were, or course, rewarding for the homeowners, but they also proved to be a lot of fun for the volunteers.

“It’s being kind and compassionate,” student Jack Laslo said as she raked.

“It gives you a good warm feeling,” Jack Leitner said. “It meets your requirements for Christian living — help your neighbors.”

Many students that participated at Independent Living Day were repeat volunteers. Lauren Reed has participated the last two or three years.

“It feels good to give back to the community,” Lauren said. “It’s great that people do this once a year. The more often people do it the better.”

Serving the community was a prevalent message being sent by the volunteers who feel it is one thing that makes Newtown what it is.

“I wanted to give back to the community because it’s a nice thing to do,” Ryan Keogler said. “I feel it’s something everyone should do for their community.”

A hard day’s work was obvious when people came back for lunch with knees caked with dirt or their hair misplaced from moving things around. But what was not misplaced was the warm feeling of having done something good and the opportunity to meet new people.

“It makes you feel good to help other people,” Peter Anderau said. “You meet really nice people, too.”

The two events are projects community members look forward to each year to help people in their own community as they build friendships along the way.

“I like working with the people just at much as helping people out,” Jerry Cole said. “It’s a nice community project. It’s nice to have the friendship of people.”

Those who were being helped raved about the volunteers and organizations that made it possible for them to have things done to and around their homes.

“I’m just so thankful,” one resident said.

Another confirmed that sentiment. “I’m just so extremely grateful. It’s truly amazing. This is what makes it nicer in Newtown.”