On Saturday, January 20, NEADS held a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon to thank its ELC (Early Learning Center) and Kennel volunteers for their commitment and dedication to NEADS. Since most volunteers only see one or two others during their shifts, this was a great opportunity for people to come together to meet each other in one place. Highlights of the afternoon included icebreaker exercises, raffles, and a pizza lunch. Certificates were awarded to 24 volunteers who had volunteered for at least one year, with the longest length of service going to Donna G. for 20 years as a NEADS volunteer.

Volunteers were treated to a slideshow that showcased all the puppies that came through the ELC in 2017 as well as all dogs who graduated. It included messages from staff that couldn’t be at the event and recapped special projects undertaken by the volunteers this past year.

The event was planned, organized, and hosted by the ELC/Kennel supervisory team, Kate Albertini, Bailey Sullivan, and Taverly Adams. Kate Sullivan, Weekend Puppy Raiser Volunteer Manager, ELC/Kennel attendants Paige Palen, Becca Hill, Erin Moloney helped out, too. Kathy Foreman, Director of Training, thanked all the volunteers, acknowledging how much the training department appreciates the work they do to make puppy and dog time on campus more enjoyable.

The event was well-received by the volunteers. Said one ELC/Kennel volunteer, “Thank you so much for organizing the event! It was really fun to meet the other volunteers, and I really appreciate all the time and effort that went into planning such a nice event for us.” And another: “Just wanted to say thank you for Saturday. It was nice to meet other volunteers and get to know their backgrounds… I enjoy being a small part of this program.”

NEADS currently has nearly 60 ELC and Kennel volunteers. In 2017, they contributed more than 2,600 hours to do a wide range of activities, including: spending one-on-one time with the puppies in the ELC and dogs in the kennel; assisting with kennel operations like stuffing kongs and helping with cleaning. Other volunteers have special assignments, including puppy transports and landscaping and maintenance volunteer work. Interested in joining NEADS as a volunteer? Find out how you can get involved here.