Kevin’s Community Center Volunteers Celebrated

By Kendra Bobowick

Words of appreciation drew honorees from the crowd one by one to receive their awards Saturday evening at the Third Annual Volunteer Recognition Celebration on behalf of the people who give their time and effort to Kevin’s Community Center.

The free medical clinic’s founder Dr Z. Michael Taweh said, “I want to thank our volunteers for an outstanding three years…the center has provided over $1 million in medical services thanks to the work of our volunteers and our generous donors.” The center began in 2002.

Also expressing praise was First Selectman Herb Rosenthal, who thanked the center’s board of directors, State Representative Julia Wasserman for her support, and the donors and volunteers.

He congratulated the center’s members for providing the quality medical care that patients are receiving. Mr Rosenthal and roughly 150 others joined together to recognize the time spent in making the center successful.

“The volunteers are what make this happen,” said Advisory Board Coordinator Mary Marinaccio.

Pondering the many ways the volunteers contribute to the center’s operations, Director of Development Phyllis Cortese said, “What don’t they do for the center?”

She continued, “The center would not be possible without our dedicated volunteer base. Without them we would not be able to offer the critically needed care that we do.”

As Ms Cortese has expressed in the past, many patients faced crucial health care decisions.

“The patients were choosing between the doctor or feeding their children and they chose to pay for food or rent…”

Honorees were Ellen Klaus, who received the Nurse Volunteer Award; Mary Nielson, APRN, who received the Professional Provider Award; Nancy Murphy, who earned the Advisory Board Volunteer Award; Mecheline Williams, MD, who received the Professional Provider Volunteer Award; Sylvia Poulin earned the Administrative Volunteer Award; Cindy Walhberg accepted the Volunteer of the Year award. The Kevin’s Spotlight Award went to Don Bates of Newtown Drug Center Pharmacy, who provides the prescriptions at no cost.

“He has provided the means for Newtown families to afford medications,” Mr Cortese said.

Each honoree has devoted special attention to Kevin’s Community Center.

According to a brochure circulated at the ceremonies, Ms Klaus has been one of the center’s “dedicated nurses from the start.” Also with the center since its inception is Ms Murphy who approaches her work with “genuine devotion.” Ms Nielson is noted as a “great asset” with “superb skills.” Dr Williams offers a “sincere passion” to her patients and her programs are noted to have “great impact” on the center. Ms Poulin has also been with Kevin’s Community Center since it opened. She “takes on extra projects” and offers patients “enthusiasm and friendliness.”

Ms Walhberg has “played a major role” in fundraising for the center and her efforts “add beauty and elegance to our events.” Mr Bates’s contributions have improved patient health, and allowed many to afford medications, the brochure stated.

In the background of congratulations for volunteers remained the nostalgia mixed with the origins of Kevin’s Community Center. As Dr Taweh’s brothers George and Leo simmered food in deep fryers and turned skewers on the grill, his wife Jocelyn and new daughter Mary Jo mingled with guests. The family members present also included Kevin’s memory.

Mr Rosenthal had thanked volunteers and the Tawehs with words evoking the center’s namesake saying, “They turned around a tragedy and made something wonderful in Kevin’s memory…as long as the center remains open he will remain alive in memory.”

Father Peter Towsley said, “His life is definitely not in vain…we have done together a great work for God.”

Kevin’s Community Center, Inc is a nonprofit, free medical clinic founded in 2002 by the Tawehs in memory of their son Kevin. The center provides free primary medical care to those residents who are uninsured or underinsured. Although the evening was not a fundraiser, Carol and Peter Fusco took the time to contribute a significant check to Dr Taweh.

The center at 31 Peck’s Lane is open Wednesdays from 1 to 5 pm. For more information about the center call 426-0496 or view the website, kevinscommunitycenter.org.