Groups from area businesses have helped with many different projects at Enable. Big and small businesses that have chosen to send a team to Enable for a day of working together have included Bristol Myers Squibb (various locations and offices), TYCO, Johnson & Johnson, NRG, Sovereign Bank, Bloomberg, McGraw-Hill, Williams, Pearson Education and Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors to name a few. The projects they completed were often at group homes such as painting indoor rooms or helping with spring and fall yard work. Some have chosen to work with participants at the Day Program run by Enable in West Windsor.

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Kris Schmidt, president of Mercer County Single Volunteers, Inc. washes a window at the Group Home. project.

The Mercer County Single Volunteers, Inc. have provided continuous volunteer support to Enable for many years. This group, comprised of single men and women, is committed to lending their time at different non-profit organizations throughout the area, while getting the chance to meet and network with other singles. Along with volunteering, they also plan and attend social events, such as trips to the movies, beach or sporting events.

Mercer County Single Volunteers washed windows at the Gallavan group home and spent over seven hours cleaning both the inside and outside windows. We thank them for continuing to support our organization.

Kelvin works on a stencil project with volunteer Talia.

The Saturday drop off respite program called Club Chameleon is a place where “the one thing that never changes is the fun.” It is held in the building that houses Enable’s headquarters in Princeton. Respite care gives caregivers (usually parents) a safe place to bring their loved one while they take some time for themselves. The Club runs for six-week sessions that are held from 10 am to 1 pm on Saturdays.

There is rarely a dull moment for participants at Club Chameleon. On a typical Saturday, you may find participants (age 8 and up) learning how to garden, cook, scrapbook or dance. There is the occasional heated game of Monopoly or Uno. One recent series focused on giving back—doing projects that were given away such as making dog treats and giving them to a local rescue shelter for animals

At Club Chameleon, participants—and volunteers—may get their hands dirty, learn new ideas and skills, and make new friends. One of the aspects of the Club that make it so successful is the one-to-one care that volunteers help provide.

Zandra organizing paperwork with Carin.

Most of us have tried looking for the perfect match whether it be in a friend, a partner or even a physician. When the match works out really well, both may feel it was a “match made in heaven” and that’s just how a volunteer and a person served by Enable feel.

When Carin suffered severe brain trauma from a terrible car accident, she didn’t know how she would get her life back together. With doctor bills, medical visits, and a weakened physical state, she wondered who would be there to help her. Of course there are family members and friends, but they cannot always be there to help when you need it. Through Enable, Carin was matched with a volunteer to assist her.

Zandra and Carin seem to fit extraordinarily well together. “I think she is spectacular. She has a positive attitude and overall is so kind. She is mature beyond her years. I couldn’t imagine anyone working better with me. We have to work on cloning her,” says Carin.

When Zandra began volunteering, she stepped right in and started cleaning Carin’s house, organizing her bills, running errands to the food store and pharmacy, and most importantly keeping her company

“I feel that I have gained a lot from volunteering with Carin,” says Zandra. “I have learned how not only to do the little things, like changing the curtains, but also life lessons from talking with and being around Carin.”