At UR Community Cares, the impact of our volunteers can be summed up in just a few powerful words: friendly, kind, unselfish, and generous.
Each day, our volunteers step up to bring light, dignity, and joy to the lives of older adults and people with disabilities across Connecticut. Whether it’s offering a gentle hand to guide someone to a doctor’s appointment, helping troubleshoot a new smartphone, or simply sitting and chatting over coffee, these acts of service make a world of difference.
Through our Neighbors Helping Neighbors program, volunteers provide vital in-home support—everything from household help to friendly visits—ensuring our aging and disabled neighbors feel less alone and more connected. When someone can age safely in their home with confidence, it’s because someone else showed up with care.
At the UR Community Tech Center, volunteers are advocating for inclusion by empowering seniors and individuals with disabilities to learn new technology. They patiently guide others through digital basics, online safety, and even assistive tech tools. It’s more than teaching—it’s about bridging generations and breaking barriers.
Through Cycling Without Age Manchester, volunteers give the gift of movement and joy—offering free rides to those who can no longer ride a bike themselves. The laughter and freedom felt during these moments are unforgettable.
Whether it’s driving someone to a medical appointment, teaching a workshop, or making sure someone knows they are valued, our volunteers are quietly shaping a kinder, more supportive community. We are mentoring high school and college interns, and the intergenerational connections are creating smiles. Knowledge sharing and learning opportunities are changing people’s lives for the better.
Their unselfish commitment is proof that small acts of generosity ripple out in big ways. We have 1000+ volunteers; this fabulous network of people keeps growing as a result of the contagious energy of our mission.
Thank you to every volunteer who shows up with kindness. You are the heart of UR Community Cares.
Want to get involved?
You can now sign up to be a Board Member by Signing Up as a Volunteer on our website, and we will send you more information. Current community members or volunteers can email or call us at 860-430-4557, and we will add the Board Member category to your account. We will then send you an application.
Visit www.URCommunityCares.org to learn how you can make a difference too.
2025 Graffiti Battle Video put together by Community Voice Channel
I want to give a BIG THANK YOU to Melanie Merkel, Workshop Trainer / Community Outreach Manager at Community Voice Channel (CVC), and her team for putting this video together of our 2025 Graffiti Battle.
Please watch it here: Graffiti Battle Recap
Our approach is uniquely positioned to meet the growing needs of an aging population. As more individuals choose to age in place and as family and professional caregiving resources become increasingly stretched, we step in to fill the critical gaps.
UR Community Cares offers a compassionate, community-driven model that connects older adults and individuals with physical disabilities to trusted, background-checked volunteers who provide essential support.
What sets us apart is our ability to blend human connection with innovation. Through our easy-to-use platform, residents can safely request assistance tailored to their needs, while volunteers are empowered to make a meaningful impact in their own communities. We don’t just provide services—we build relationships, reduce isolation, and strengthen neighborhood bonds.
In a time when healthcare systems, aging services, and emergency response teams are often overwhelmed, our model offers a preventative, proactive solution. By offering consistent, non-clinical support in the home and community, we help prevent small problems from becoming crises—saving money, preserving dignity, and improving quality of life.
Simply put, UR Community Cares is creating a more connected and compassionate way to care for one another—meeting people where they are, with the support they deserve.
I believe great leaders dare to dream big, act with courage, and devote themselves to lifting others up—igniting a shared vision that inspires collective success.
Michelle Puzzo, Executive Director, UR Community Cares
860-430-4557
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