Westonite of the Week: Janet Hoffman

Westonite Janet Hoffman knows a thing or two about volunteering, and about how even the smallest contribution makes a big difference in the aggregate.

Since 1991, Janet and her husband Tom have lived in Weston. The Hoffmans chose Weston because they loved the combination of quality schools, property size, and the value that was available in the early 1990s. "It was great for us," she said.

Hoffman started volunteering "because it was a nice way for us to meet people," she said. She began her work with the Weston Women's League (formerly known as the Young Women's Club).

"Oh, I started doing the Children's Holiday Breakfast, the farmer's market, membership. . .many things," she reminisced. 

After her four children, Grant, Emma, Cole, and Tara, began school, Hoffman shifted her focus there.

"I try to focus on our family," Hoffman said, "and be involved in things that we could do as a family, together."

Hoffman tries to instill in her children that volunteering is "a way of life," she said. "It takes work, but it's so fulfilling. Kids need to know that they're doing, and why it's important."

When asked what projects were most personally meaningful to her, Hoffman commented that she doesn't "want to discount other events, because they're all important," but that this past year's effort to raise money and supplies for the Evergreen Network was special.

"Our community comes through, and it amazes me," she said. "Even the smallest donation, like toothbrushes or two dollars for a turkey, when we saw the truck filled with donations...well, it made a big impact.

"To really help [local families] in a meaningful way was incredible."

Hoffman added that although many in our community are fortunate, "we're all raising families and struggling with the same issues."

"We need to demonstrate to kids that we have it lucky," she said.