TWO LONG-RUNNING VOLUNTEER GROUPS MERGE TO HELP CHILDREN TOGETHER
“The children we serve may grow up, but our mission will never grow old.”
It’s something we sometimes say at DABSJ – and when you imagine the generations and generations who have been part of the 137-year DABSJ legacy, a profound statement to reflect on.
Thinking of those children who have grown up – become adults, maybe parents and grandparents themselves – we know that so many of them were touched by the work of two volunteer guilds: the St. John’s Guild and the Marilyn J. Olson Guild.
Each long-running group has built a legacy of service, formed at the two organizations that eventually merged to form DABSJ. The St. John’s Guild, first developed at St. John’s Home (which is now our Residential Treatment program), raised critical funds for programming and supplies through the annual St. John’s Guild Ball. The Marilyn J. Olson Guild, created in memory of a dedicated volunteer at D.A. Blodgett for Children, focused on managing care bags and other supplies for children in foster care and more.
This summer, the two groups decided to come together as one, forming the DABSJ Guild of Volunteers.
In their first meeting as a merged group, the Guild formed committees to continue their legacy work with care supplies and the St. John’s Guild Ball, while also opening the door for more possibilities with projects and ideas. The group would like to create an inclusive space, where anyone can find their place with involvement that fits their time and interests.
In the Guild, volunteers become part of a close-knit community within the larger DABSJ family, ready to mobilize to meet the needs of our children and programs. We would love to help you find your place in the DABSJ Guild! Learn more at dabsj.org/be-involved/jointheguild.
