WESTWOOD—Celebrate Westwood invites us all to help laud the countless ways in which volunteers have improved Westwood and the greater Pascack Valley.
Visit the gallery installation “Picture The Hub: Giving Time,” March 14–April 30 at the Westwood Public Library, 49 Park Ave.
The exhibition of portraits — and the sitters’ stories, giving their reasons for volunteering and so much more — are part of a celebration of April as National Volunteer Month.
Fifty-six nominations were sourced from the community in November 2021. Those nominees represented more than 45 volunteer organizations or initiatives. Fifty-one volunteers agreed to sit for portraits and storytelling.
The portraits were taken by Celebrate Westwood’s volunteer photographer, Richard Frant of FrantVisuals, and the stories collected and edited by Celebrate Westwood co-chairs RoseAnn Ciarlante and Lauren Letizia.
Prints of the photographs were donated by Bergen County Camera and generously mounted by Westwood Art Gallery’s Mike Fitzsimmons — whom organizers told Pascack Press on March 8 should also be celebrated as a serial volunteer.
This project springs to life online, as well: For the digital gallery and edited interviews from each participant, with links to their volunteer organizations, visit celebratewestwood.org/picture-the-hub.
Formed in 2018 to organize Westwood’s 125th Anniversary Year festivities, Celebrate Westwood has since been tasked with creating “small-moment events” that allow safe gathering under pandemic protocols.
Arts on the Avenues, Broadway Sings America, Chalk the Park, Trek-or-Treat, holiday decorating contests and more were all made possible with funding from resident donations, a grant from Westwood For All Ages and the support of the Westwood Chamber of Commerce as well as the Borough governing body and borough mainstays such as the Westwood Recreation Department and Westwood Public Library.
Letizia told Pascack Press on March 8, “‘Picture The Hub: Giving Time” was designed “to celebrate the selfless generosity of our hometown volunteers and to highlight the many varieties of ways residents can — and should — get involved.”
Participants from the likes of the Westwood Volunteer Fire Department, Westwood Ambulance Corps, and Westwood Baseball Association are pictured beside representatives from newer or less public-facing organizations such as the Literacy Volunteers of the Pascack Valley, Boy Scout Troop 47, Senior Advisory Committee, Connex4NPO, and Westwood Cares.
The portraits capture a microcosm of volunteerism in Westwood: a variety of volunteer roles and organizations; some are new members and some are veterans of many decades; many held leadership positions in their organizations while others said they simply enjoyed supporting their group’s mission.
The Westwood Library hosts a closing event and Volunteer Night on Wednesday, April 27.
Letizia said one thread ran through each interview: “the undeniable benefit of volunteering both on the volunteer and the community at large.”
And she said that although this project was designed to highlight Westwood and its resident volunteers, “It quickly became apparent that the geographic reach and impact of ‘Westwood’ volunteers goes well beyond the borough’s borders.”
Ciarlante said, “It is the hope of Celebrate Westwood that by seeing the faces of neighbors and friends, and by reading their stories and experiences of giving their time, talent, and treasure to their community, that other residents will be inspired to also step up and be a part of something larger than themselves.”
Martha Urbiel, director of Westwood Public Library, now in her 16th year in that role, told Pascack Press on March 9 that “It’s excellent to have it here at the library because we deal with a lot of volunteers at the library.”
She said, “They’re excellent photos, and the person who took them, Richard Frant, has been such a wonderful addition to Westwood, because he’s offered to take photos of lots of events.” He also took the library staff’s professional photos.
She said, “It was really wonderful for me to put the photos up on a display and recognize so many of the people that are being recognized for their volunteer efforts.”
For Urbiel, the exhibit resonates also “because I worked with most of them in some capacity or another and that made me feel that the library has been a great partner to all these organizations, and those organizations give back to the library — and together that’s done so much good in the Pascack Valley.”
A sample, in their own words
Via Celebrate Westwood (roll over the photos at CW’s website for the full text):
- Janet Dunn, president of the Westwood Volunteer Ambulance Corps, said “It’s so gratifying to help other people no matter what you decide to do if you’re going to be a scout leader, help out at the school. […] Just give yourself a little joy by helping somebody out wherever it is because people are so appreciative.”
- Maria Montana, volunteer for SNAP (Special Needs Athletic Program), noted that her athletes come from all over the Pascack Valley and about half a dozen municipalities in greater Bergen County.
- Tom Offerjost, director of the Westwood Community Band, was proud of the high volume of Westwood resident musicians but noted that many members hail from nearby towns and he actually lives in Washington Township.
- Lou Scheideler, member of the Westwood Fire Department and Historic Preservation Commission, said, “There’s always open doors in this town and always people willing to give.” He added, “I’ve always felt this huge sense of community pride and living in town. This town has given me and my family so much, I always felt like I wanted to give back in some way shape or form and this was, this was the decision and I’ve loved every second of it.”
- President of the Westwood Baseball Association, current Planning Board member, and former Environmental Committee member Yash Risbud: “For anyone thinking about volunteering in Westwood, I never envisioned ever taking this much on and never really wanted to, but it was a great way to meet neighbors.” He said, There’s always something to do. There’s never enough help. And never be afraid! Everything from an email to volunteering at an event to taking something on. It all counts.”
- Jim Gines, longstanding member of the Westwood Heritage Society, echoed that sentiment. “We always say, look… One day a week, one day a month, one day every six months […] any little bit you can give is useful. [And] little by little, you pick up more and then you become one of the veterans.”
- Sally Roberts of the Senior Advisory Committee and Senior Fellowship agreed. “You’ll always get back more than you give.”