Dear Cleveland and Woodley Park neighbors,

As we near the end of another year I want to ask for your contribution or for your time as a volunteer. This year I’m fortunate to be able to share a story recently shared with me from a longtime Village volunteer. Her story is powerful testimony of the impact the Village makes for our members and volunteers. As you plan your year-end giving, I hope you will consider the Village as a local opportunity to have impact.

Thank you,

Frank Finamore, Executive Director & Woodley Park Resident

Cleveland & Woodley Park Village

www.CWPV.org/support

https://www.cwpv.org/volunteer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A letter from Village volunteer Carol…

Ten years ago I made a decision that has had a profound effect on me, I became a Cleveland and Woodley Park Village volunteer. I was quickly introduced to a senior and soon began one of the most meaningful relationships of my life.

I began taking her on errands … shopping to the Giant, to Rodmans, or the Calvert-Woodley. Other times we stopped at the library, picked up dry cleaning, mailed packages at the post office. The pleasure she got from these weekly jaunts opened my heart. But as we spent time together an amazing mutual friendship developed.

One of the important lessons she taught me was patience. She used a walker and moved very slowly, but she enjoyed taking her time. Time to squeeze the lemons to make sure they were juicy, time to pick the perfect peach, time to customize a bag of grapes so they had three different varieties.  Along the way she told me stories … early years in Germany, school days in Baltimore, medical school, experiencing rigid sexism when searching for employment as a newly minted physician and raising a family while moving around the country.

In time I took over the shopping entirely as her health worsened. After unloading the groceries, I spent some time just visiting with her and her husband and was given an inside seat through which to view a remarkably devoted longtime marriage. I grew to know all three of their adult children and was invited to family celebrations and get-togethers and included on many emails and texts.

Both have now passed, but I feel fortunate for the years we shared, the memories we created together. And the insights and observations about life I was able to glean.

I tell you this because I want you to know that working as a village volunteer is not just providing a service. I believe it is a mutual exchange of hearts and minds. A most powerful experience, and one that I draw on almost every day.