Helping Hands Across Simsbury and Other Communities

Westminster School students and faculty performed volunteer work at 16 locations in the region on Oct. 9, including several places in Simsbury, as a part of the school’s annual all-school Community Service Day.

The approximate 450 volunteers visited 4-H Educational Center at Auerfarm in Bloomfield, Camp Horizons in South Windham, University of Hartford Magnet School in West Hartford, Covenant Prep School in Hartford, Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation in Bloomfield, House of Bread in Hartford, Covenant Soup Kitchen in Willimantic, South Park Inn Homeless Shelter in Hartford, Dr. Joseph S. Renzulli Gifted and Talented Academy in Hartford, Simsbury Community Farm, Foodshare Regional Market Warehouse in Hartford, Simsbury Housing Authority, the Senior Center at Eno Memorial Hall in Simsbury, Simsbury Historical Society, Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen in Hartford and the Farmington River.

They raked leaves, prepared and served meals, completed repair work, cleaned and organized sites, worked with children, stocked food shelves and entertained senior citizens. Staff also planted 2,000 daffodil bulbs on campus as part of a beautification project.

“An all-school service day is exactly what it says: all school,” said Gloria Connell, Westminster’s director of community service. “Everyone at Westminster was involved in the true sprit of service, whether they were working at a soup kitchen, preparing our lunches, singing for the citizens of Simsbury, raking leaves, beautifying our campus or preparing the activity vans. Students, faculty and staff, alike, supported this day in action and spirit, a truly genuine reflection of the school’s motto, Grit and Grace.”