Ridgefield Non-Profit Fair Returns As Neighbors Group Builds Community Connections

RIDGEFIELD, CT — A community built on connection is getting another chance to come together this spring — and maybe discover a new way to give back.

The Ridgefield Neighbors and Newcomers will host its second Non-Profit Fair on Sunday, April 19, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Yanity Gym.

“It’s an opportunity for the community of Ridgefield and the larger community to come together to learn about different nonprofits, to learn about their missions, to see if there’s mission alignment with things they’re interested in,” said Jennifer Brakenwagen, the group’s president.

The event is free and open to the public.

Building on a First-Year Success

The fair returns after what organizers describe as a strong debut. Brakenwagen said the first event helped spark collaborations among nonprofits and even led to new board members, donors and volunteers.

“We know from last year, several nonprofits met with each other and have done things together since,” she said, adding that others “have added board members or committed donors and volunteers from people they met at the fair.”

For this event, organizers are hoping for even broader participation — and fewer scheduling conflicts than the inaugural event, which followed closely behind a large senior expo.

A Group With Deep Roots

While the fair itself is new, the organization behind it has been part of Ridgefield life for decades.

Brakenwagen said the group has been around for more than 60 years, though it recently updated its name to better reflect its evolving mission.

Originally focused on welcoming newcomers, the organization has shifted to include longtime residents as well — a change meant to keep members engaged well beyond their first years in town.

“The one thing that sets us apart is several of the organizations are for newcomers only,” Brakenwagen said. “We realized that we had members who had really been in the organization for a long time and didn’t want to leave.”

Today, the group has about 114 members and offers a wide range of social activities, from book clubs and cooking groups to dinners, movies and garden tours.

According to its website, the organization aims to help residents build friendships, explore shared interests and feel more connected to the community — whether they’ve lived in Ridgefield for a few months or a few decades.

Connecting People — and Causes

The fair reflects that broader mission: not just bringing people together socially, but helping them plug into the town’s network of civic and charitable organizations.

Brakenwagen said the event also gives nonprofits a chance to connect with each other, potentially leading to partnerships that extend beyond the fair.

For Ridgefield, she said, that kind of collaboration comes naturally.

“I think it starts at the very top. We have a completely civic-minded group of people here,” Brakenwagen told Patch.

She pointed to the town’s active calendar — from library programs to theater and community events — as evidence of a culture that encourages residents to get involved and meet one another.

“I think that is something that really sets Ridgefield apart, is our neighborliness and our want to be walking around downtown and meeting people at events,” she said.

A Low-Key Way to Get Involved

For newcomers and longtime residents alike, the fair offers a simple entry point: walk in, browse, and start a conversation.

For the organizers, it’s also a way to step outside their own membership and engage more broadly with the town.

“We kind of want to do things where we become a greater part of the community,” Brakenwagen said.

And for Ridgefield, a town that prides itself on participation, the event is another reminder that community often starts with showing up.