Get involved in something new at the Waterbury Community Volunteer Fair
May 10, 2025 | By Lisa Scagliotti Update May 13: The list of fair participants was updated today.
Looking for a way to get involved in something new, but maybe you aren’t sure how? Do you see fun things happening in town and wonder how and who makes them happen?
Waterbury volunteers rally when needed: After the July flood last year, volunteers clean up at Wesley United Methodist Church. Photo by Gordon Miller
Waterbury’s groups and organizations behind many of the efforts that make Waterbury an awesome place to live and work are always looking for new recruits to share the work, offer ideas, and keep things running smoothly.
On Saturday, May 17, the Waterbury Community Volunteer Fair is happening at Brookside Primary School to give folks in town a chance to connect prospective volunteers with a wide array of volunteer opportunities.
Revitalizing Waterbury and Waterbury Recreation are leading the effort to line up representatives from more than two dozen organizations and groups who owe much of their success to volunteers.
Organizations with members planning to attend represent the arts community, gardeners, recreation and sports enthusiasts, seniors and youth organizations, environmentalists, history buffs, builders, local food systems, community development and more.
They will all have tables inside the school gym from 1 to 3 p.m., where people can stop in to learn more about the groups and take the first steps by signing up to get involved.
To make it fun, the organizers have assembled a collection of prizes to raffle off every 10 minutes by drawing the names of people who sign up as new volunteers on the spot. Prizes include gift cards at local restaurants, free garden seeds, books, discount coupons and more.
Revitalizing Waterbury Executive Director Roger Clapp said the event aims to channel new energy to the various volunteer organizations that “provide vital services and vitality to the Waterbury community and beyond.”
He said he expects that potential opportunities will range from one-day projects or events to help with, as well as long-term roles that the organizations need to fill.
“Many of us who've been doing one thing for too long may find something new that interests us,” he said. “Beyond that, the fair could serve as a convening point for volunteer organizations that share similar interests and challenges.”
People of all ages are encouraged to stop in – individuals and families, those new to town or newly retired, teens and anyone seeking opportunities for community service.
As of Tuesday, May 13, this is the list of organizations planning to have members at the Community Volunteer Fair:
A River Runs Through It (ARRTI) Garden Club
Central Vermont Council on Aging
Central Vermont Refugee Action Network
Community Resiliency for the Waterbury Area (CReW)
Everybody Wins! mentoring program
Four Winds Nature Program at Brookside Primary School
Friends of the Waterbury Public Library
Friends of the Waterbury Reservoir
Friends for Waterbury Area Recreation Development (FORWARD)
Green Up Vermont - Waterbury
Restore - Central Vermont Habitat for Humanity
Revitalizing Waterbury
Stowe Jazz Festival
UVM Extension Master Gardeners
Waterbury Area Senior Center
Waterbury Area Trails Alliance (WATA)
Waterbury Arts
Waterbury Arts Fest
Waterbury Common Market
Waterbury Conservation Commission
Waterbury Historical Society
Waterbury LEAP (Local Energy Action Partnership)
Waterbury Recreation Department
Waterbury Rotary Club
Waterbury Roundabout online news
Waterbury Skatepark Coalition
Waterbury Winterfest
Waterbury Youth Soccer
WindowDressers