Gifting Board at Norfolk Hub is for helpers and those needing help

By David Beers

At the Norfolk Hub is a large cork bulletin board with a bunch of colorful posted notes that appeared this past summer. At first glance, it looks like the result of a frenzied meeting of brainstorming for some new big entrepreneurial project. For the most part, that is what it is.

It is on this Community Gifting Board that anyone can offer to both share and request goods, services and companionship; with the left side for offering and the right side for requesting. Down in the bottom center is an area of Successful Connections, where requests and gifts have come together, and an exchange has occurred. All of these exchanges are free, with no expectation of a reciprocal gift. Anyone is welcome to post to either side of the board. While many of the posts have a phone number or email address on the back, you can also remain anonymous and leave your contact information with the Hub staff to provide to those who are interested in your post. Some examples of successful connections are firewood, computer help, legal services, rides, and an air conditioner.

Norfolk NET (Networking Everyone Together) has started the Gifting Board as part of its mission to provide a safety net to those in need and to foster relationships that help everyone thrive in Norfolk. Norfolk Net has held two public Sharing Circle meetings at the Hub to explain the board and get participants to post on the board, but it’s not necessary to attend any sort of meeting to post—just head down to the Hub.

Norfolk Net is now working on implementing three other new ideas that also involve community sharing, including a special event Farmers Market for a free exchange of food, a volunteer-staffed salvage shed at the town transfer station for taking and leaving used items and a ride share program to connect those in need of a ride with those willing to provide a ride. There is a particularly strong need for rides from seniors with doctor’s appointments that do not schedule well with the Northwest transit bus service.

Norfolk Net encourages anyone needing assistance to contact one of its five collaborators: Norfolk First Selectman’s office, Botelle School, Immaculate Conception Church, Church of Christ or Northwestern Regional 7 high school. Contact information can be found at the Hub or at NorfolkNetCT.org.

Norfolk Net welcomes any help you can offer in whatever form that may take. Please do not hesitate to contact them.

Photo by David Beers.