Over the past few months, our community has felt a heaviness that words can barely hold. We have said goodbye to several of our older members, people whose stories, wisdom, and warmth shaped the very heart of UR Community Cares. Each loss has been deeply felt, not only by their families, but by the volunteers who stood beside them, sometimes until their very last days.
What we do here has never been about checking boxes or completing tasks. It has always been about connection; true, human connection. And in these recent losses, the depth and power of those connections have been impossible to ignore.
Our volunteers have shown up in ways that remind us what compassion really looks like. They have held hands, shared laughter, listened to memories, run errands, sat through quiet moments, and offered support when families felt overwhelmed and exhausted. They have helped caregivers breathe a little easier. They have shown loyalty and love that extend far beyond a scheduled visit.
And when these beloved members passed, some families chose to honor their legacy by naming UR Community Cares as the recipient for donations instead of flowers. Those gestures brought us to tears. They reflect not just appreciation, but trust, trust in the impact we make, in the relationships we build, in the mission we carry forward.
Because the impact is real.
The connections are real.
The friendships are real.
This is more than a program; it’s a family woven together through shared time, shared stories, and shared humanity.
To our volunteers, we see you. We are profoundly proud of you. Your kindness does not go unnoticed. You walk with people during some of the most vulnerable chapters of their lives, and that level of caring is a gift few can give. You create safety. You create belonging. You create dignity at the end of life, when it matters most.
To the families who trusted us, welcomed us into their homes, and honored us in their loved one’s memory: thank you. We grieve with you. And we carry forward the legacy of those you lost by continuing to serve others with the same compassion they inspired in us.
And to the members we’ve lost, thank you for letting us be part of your lives. Your stories will stay with us. Your smiles, your jokes, your resilience, your wisdom, they remain. You will never be forgotten.
During Thanksgiving week, we are thankful, and we are reminded why UR Community Cares exists. We aren’t just addressing needs, we are nurturing relationships. We are building bridges. We are creating moments of comfort in a world that can feel lonely, especially in older age.
This work is sacred.
This community is sacred.
And we honor every life touched along the way.
Thinking of those we have lost, but also those they left behind. This Thanksgiving, I want to give a heartfelt thanks to each person across Connecticut — volunteers whose kindness, courage, and dedication light up our state. Your selfless acts nourish our communities and remind us all of the true meaning of gratitude. May your holiday be filled with warmth, love, and the knowledge that you are deeply appreciated. Happy Thanksgiving to all who are making the world a better place.
Michelle Puzzo, Executive Director
860-430-4557
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