by Aidan Krantz
7/16/2018

Debbie Colburn

What have you done in the past as volunteer work? In the past, my work schedule limited my activity to monetary or item donations.

What do you currently do as volunteer work?
Currently I am involved with two organizations. The first is Project Just Because in Hopkinton. PJB is a state-wide resource for people in need of clothing, bedding, & small housewares. PJB also supplies Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, Easter baskets, & a variety of specialty baskets. As a volunteer, I fill the requests of these items from the material that PJB has in stock or sort through donations for this stock. I am also on the organizing committee of the PJB Shamrock Shindig – one of the big fundraisers for PJB – an evening of good food & music with both a silent & live auction plus raffles of different types.

The other is the Holliston Newcomers Club. The Holliston Newcomers Club is a local organization comprised of residents from Holliston and the surrounding towns. HNC provides community & civic support such as providing grants to town departments & groups through fundraisers like Gingerbread House & Touch-A-Truck or organizing programs like the Food Pantry Thanksgiving & Easter Baskets. Plus, members meet and socialize through family activities like playgroups & day trips as well as adult activities like Book Club & Ladies Night Out. I am currently 2nd VP which takes care of tracking membership and on the Thanksgiving Basket Committee as well as volunteering hours at the other Newcomers fundraiser events.

What made you want to get involved in volunteering?
While my time was limited when I was working - I always looked to support different organizations with monetary or item donations. When I retired (4 years ago), I looked to help those groups to offer my time and get more involved. Time is something a lot of people don’t have much anymore and is the one resource these groups greatly need. Now that I had an excess of time - I wanted to keep active and put it to good use.

What is your favorite part of volunteering?
Foremost, I enjoy doing something to help others. In Project Just Because, I can affect the lives of people in need. In Holliston Newcomers, I can affect the lives of my community and neighbors. The bonus is the people I have met that work or volunteer alongside me in these organizations. They are a great group of people – making the ‘work’ fun.

What have you gotten out of volunteering?
The personal satisfaction of making a difference and meeting a great group of people trying to do the same thing. Donations are always needed – but you never see the smiling faces of appreciation or experience the laughter of friends getting something done. I found once I started – it was habit forming.