From Bunny Hunts to Big Impact: What Your Support Makes Possible
- Catherine Aingworth
- Apr 1
- 5 min read
How community events, volunteers, and your support keep our doors open and our mission moving forward!
At Newark Valley Community Connection, everything we do is rooted in one simple idea: bringing people together matters.
From family-friendly events and community meals to concerts, classes, and seasonal celebrations, our goal is to create meaningful connection across generations. But behind every gathering, every giggle, paint stroke, yoga pose or boot scootin' boogie, and every shared experience, there is something essential that makes it all possible—the ongoing support of our community.
The Reality Behind the Scenes
As an all-volunteer nonprofit, we are proud to care for and continually improve two well recognized community buildings. We are thoughtfully modernizing and updating these spaces while planning for better connection between them to improve flow, functionality and how our community of supporters experience these spaces. As our programs continue to grow, we are also working towards expanded parking solutions to ensure our space remains accessible, safe, and welcoming for all.
In addition to serving local residents, our programs draw people from surrounding communities, creating a positive ripple effect for our local economy. Visitors to our events shop, dine, and explore nearby businesses, making Community Connection not only a social asset, but an economic one as well. These spaces are full of life—but they also come with real, ongoing costs.
Each year, our operating budget exceeds $25,000, which includes:
Fuel oil to heat our buildings
Electric and utility expenses
Insurance
Routine maintenance
Unexpected repairs
These are the behind-the-scenes essentials that ensure our doors stay open, our spaces stay safe, and our programs can continue.
Looking Ahead: Caring for Our Future
In addition to annual expenses, we are also planning for important long-term improvements.
Two of our most significant upcoming needs include:
Replacing the kitchen area deck and doors
Replacing the aging oil furnace in our building-(keeping in mind the event center/old church has 25 foot high ceilings!)
Planning for a future roof replacement for our event space (the old church)
Addition of a connecting walkway/ enclosed breezeway and second bathroom
Outdoor patio between buildings
Lower level accessibility
These projects, and more, are ambitious, but necessary to our buildings—not just for today, but for future generations who will gather, celebrate, and connect here.
What Your Support Makes Possible
A perfect example of community in action was our recent Spring Gift Market/ Craft Fair and Bunny Hop and Hunt.
The day was filled with lots of kids, giggles, and energy, as families came together to enjoy hands-on activites, connect with local vendors, and celebrate the season. From the excitement of the bunny hunt to the creativity and joy throughout the event, it was a reminder of exactly why this space exists.
Events like these don't just happen-they are made possible through community support, volunteer effort, and the shared belief that these moments are worth creating.
Why Fundraisers Matter
Every fundraiser we host—whether it’s a craft fair, dinner event, concert, or seasonal celebration—is about more than just the event itself.
It’s about sustainability.
It’s about community.
It’s about ensuring this space continues to exist to serve and bring people together. Our recent Spring Gift Market fundraiser will help cover the expenses for ONE month of utilities-electricity and fuel oil to heat and power our buildings.
When you attend, volunteer, donate, or spread the word, you are directly helping us:
Keep our buildings open and welcoming
Offer affordable and accessible programming
Invest back into our local economy
Strengthen connection across generations
Beyond Our Walls: Community & Economic Impact
Our efforts don't just benefit those who attend-they also bring visitors into our area. Through our events, concerts, and programs, we regularly welcome people from outside of our local community who support local businesses and contribute to the overall vitality of our local economy.
We extend our impact beyond our physical building space by actively maintaining the Newark Valley, NY Community Facebook Group, providing a central hub for local connection and community engagement. Here is the link to the group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1ASgwtCMWZ/ To keep the Facebook page helpful and welcoming for everyone, we encourage local businesses to share updates in a balanced way, and we typically limit business posts to once per week.
We also are in the process of developing and maintaining the creation of mountain bike and hike trails that support outdoor recreation, wellness, and exploration of our area.
Supporting Newark Valley Community Connection means supporting the broader social and economic health of our area.
Powered by Volunteers, Guided by Purpose
Newark Valley Community Connection is led by a dedicated volunteer board of seven local community members who meet monthly to guide our mission and keep us moving forward. Beyond those meetings, board members also give countless hours of hands-on time through project improvements, building maintenance and events. They are joined by a committed core group of approximately 25+ active volunteers who show up again and again, and whose time, energy, and talents are essential to everyting we do and make everything possible. Together, this team makes it possible for our organization to operate, grow, and thrive and this collective effort is truly the backbone of our organization.
How You Can Be Part of It
This space exists for community-and it thrives because of you.
There are many ways to support Newark Valley Community Connection:
Attend our events and bring a friend or family member
Volunteer your time or talents to help us grow and improve
Make a donation to support our annual operations or upcoming capital projects
Share our events and mission with others who value community connection
You can also deepen your impact by becoming part of our Community Builders Circle through monthly giving, supporting our Sponsorship Program, or by creating a Lasting Legacy by investing in and naming a space that will serve generations to come.
For our local businesses and corporate partners, we invite you to be part of something meaningful in our region. Sponsorship opportunities allow you to:
Gain visibility within the community
Align your business with a positive, local mission
Directly support a space that benefits families, residents, and the local economy
Whether through event sponsorships, annual giving, or project-based support, your partnership helps ensure that this community hub continues to thrive.
A Shared Effort
This is more than a building. It’s more than a program calendar. This space exists for community.
It’s a place where people come together—where connections are formed, traditions are created, and community is strengthened-and it thrives because of you!
And it exists because of you.
Thank you for being part of Newark Valley Community Connection!
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