The Spirit Of Volunteerism

To the Editor:

When I was in middle school, I remember spending many months showing up at school every Saturday. I wasn’t there for classes but to help paint the hallways. I spent countless hours with my family (namely my Dad who was spear-heading the effort through SOS) and other volunteers. Perhaps you wonder why we were doing this. It saved the town thousands of dollars in their budget, a savings that could be used for better things.

This spirit of volunteerism is something that my Dad has always embodied, and is a big part of the Fetzer/Hemingway campaign. When we painted the halls at the middle school it was to make a difference in the community. In this same spirit, Gary Fetzer and Joe Hemingway have proposed, as part of their campaign, to use volunteers where they can (possibly for things like painting or planting); allowing town funds and resources to be used for better things. It is clear that volunteers can make a difference, and by using them we can make Newtown a better place.

There seems to be some confusion coming from articles printed as a result of press releases sent the past two weeks. Knowing these candidates, being a part of this campaign, and reading their full position paper, it is clear that their goal is to have volunteers help out around Newtown doing things that would allow town employees to spend more time on the most important parts of their jobs. I can assure all Newtown residents, and especially our town employees and their families, that this proposal is in no way trying to replace their jobs as was reported in The Newtown Bee. The full position paper is available online at www.teamnewtown.org and Gary and Joe are always available to speak with you about the details of this, or any other proposal.

I do ask that you consider joining Team Newtown as we kick off the Democratic campaign on Saturday, September 12, at 8:30 am at our headquarters on Church Hill Road. We will then, in the true spirit of volunteerism, take to the streets and pick up trash. And I promise, no highway department (or even private garbage company) jobs will be replaced in the process!

Sincerely,

Sarah Hemingway

10 Overlook Knoll, Sandy Hook                             September 2, 2009