Fidelco Salutes our Volunteers

Our Fidelco Spotlight is casting a wide beam this time as we say thanks to a number of volunteers who help us fulfill our mission each day. Without them, we simply could not do all the things that are necessary to meet the demand for our guide dogs and to keep the Fidelco campus shipshape.

It goes without saying that our foster families are at the top of our volunteer list. Their efforts to raise and socialize our pups are a vital step in the creation of Fidelco guide dogs. And some fosters can’t get enough. Take Karen and Bob Bass from Meriden, CT for instance. “Brooke” is their 14th foster puppy!

Fostering Fidelco pups is not just an “outside” volunteer activity. Many of the Fidelco staff volunteer as fosters and currently, three employees; Teresa Hurd with “Jakie,” Diane Lindeland with “Julie,” and Christine Buhler with “Java,” are spending significant time outside of their normal duties to love, care for and raise these wonderful pups.

We need and want more foster families to get involved in our program. If you would like to learn about being a Fidelco foster, visit www.fidelco.org and click on “Foster Program.” You can also call Fidelco and talk to Sue Holt-Brown, director of Fidelco’s foster program.
Her number is 860-243-4047.

Our volunteers also clean our kennels, wash our vans and walk our dogs, among a host of other tasks. Who are these special people?

Coach Jeff Calcaterra brings his University of Hartford baseball team to Fidelco on a regular basis to learn about volunteerism and to help keep our fleets of vans clean and ready to roll.
Dot and Will Fletcher have volunteered as fosters, provided maintenance and administrative support and worked at a number of Fidelco events. They’re celebrating their 69th wedding anniversary this year!

Carolyn Adams and Ashley Lindeland oversee the kids’ activity area at the Fidelco Walk and Open House and have done so for many years. They also assist with set up and breakdown at special events and often help with administrative duties.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization and volunteer opportunities are many. To learn more, visit www.fidelco.org or call Jan Adams at 860-243-4801.

Gert Delisio and husband John have fostered 13 puppies since receiving “Briney” in 1987. Gert also sews fleece toys for Fidelco’s puppies and John customizes our pups’ training harnesses. After retiring from the state of Connecticut, Gert volunteered her time walking dogs and helping to keep Fidelco’s kennels operating smoothly. In 2001, she joined Fidelco as a staff member.  “It’s wonderful to be able to give something back,” she said. “There’s a real need and the gift of your time is a wonderful thing.” Nowadays, Gert can also be found in the Norma F. Pfriem Pup House. “I love those puppies,” she said. “I just like to handle them and talk to them.

Time means nothing to me when I’m there.”
But you mean everything to Fidelco, Gert. Thank you for your special gift of time.