WESTFIELD — On Sunday, March 15, the Westfield Memorial Library will hold in conjunction with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Westfield, the MLK Day of Service Volunteer Fair between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. The Fair, which had been previously scheduled in January, was postponed due to inclement weather.
The Fair is an opportunity to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and for prospective volunteers to meet representatives of nonprofit and service-based organizations seeking help.
Volunteering can help people build connections with other people in the community, improve physical and mental health, advance careers, teach valuable job skills, and bring greater enjoyment and fulfillment to life. But finding the right volunteer opportunity is not always easy.
Whether attendees are looking for a one-time volunteer opportunity for service credit, or a volunteer role that allows them to give back for weeks, months, or years –the library can help connect individuals with representatives from: Friends of Brightwood Park, Friends of the Westfield Memorial Library, Homefront Hugs Foundation, Imagine – A Center for Coping with Loss, Refugee Assistance Partners NJ, The Miller-Cory House Museum, Westfield Community Players and the Westfield Green Team.
The library also connects people to organizations that require volunteers to be 18+years of age: Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties; Caring Contact; Center for Hope Hospice; Literacy New Jersey/ Union County; Plainfield Public Library Adult Literacy Program; Students 2 Science; and the Westfield Service League.
Other events occur in mid-March that appeal to a wide variety of audiences. On Wednesday, March 18 between 12 and 1 p.m., the Women’s Cancer Support Group will be held in the Meeting Room. Facilitated by Meredith Shufeld Perrone, LCSW, the group is a safe, welcoming space for women whose lives have been touched by cancer whether they are in treatment, living with chronic or metastatic cancer, or navigating survivorship Participants will have a chance to share experiences, challenges, and victories with women who truly understand; learn practical ways to cope with the physical and emotional effects of cancer; exchange tips, resources, and encouragement for every stage of the journey; recognize and honor the resilience within the self and one another; and build meaningful connections that remind participants: no woman walks alone.
Ms. Shufeld Perrone is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 15 years of experience in healthcare, specializing in oncology. She has worked across both inpatient and outpatient cancer care settings, giving her a deep understanding of the medical and emotional challenges individuals and families face.
The Mental Health Practitioners Book Club will meet on Thursday, March 19 from 11.00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to discuss the book “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. This book club is open to local area mental health practitioners, including but not limited to: social workers, psychologists, and nurses. The club meets monthly and members rotate picking books. Interested mental health professionals who would like to join the discussion should email the Community Liaison, Jack Serzan, at jserzan@wmlnj.org.
Librarian and craft expert Marge Barkan will hold Crafterdark, a monthly session for crafters to gather and work on their own projects together on Thursday, March 19 from 6:30 to 8:00p.m. Crafters can bring their projects to join a group of fellow crafters for fun, encouragement and inspiration. Whether knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, embroidering, drawing etc., if the project is portable, it’s welcome. No registration is required.
For more information about upcoming programs, reading challenges, and services, visit wmlnj.org or call 908-789-4090.
About Westfield Memorial Library Westfield Memorial Library is a public library dedicated to providing free and equitable access to information, resources, and cultural experiences for residents of Westfield and the surrounding community. Through innovative programming and responsive services, the Library advances literacy, lifelong learning, and civic engagement.
