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New Family Day organizers needed as Friends membership turns over

Individuals walk the aisles of tents at Hopkinton Family Day on Saturday. PHOTO/WILLIAM DURFEE

Members of the Friends of Hopkinton already are beginning to think about next year’s Family Day — especially about the volunteers needed to make it happen.

Friends member Dorothy Maruska highlighted the success of Saturday’s event, stating that “perfect weather conditions” made it one of the best attended Family Days since it began about a decade ago.

“This year was the quintessential, absolute perfect day,” she remarked.

Maruska estimated that as many as 3,500 people attend the event annually and said that 42 local organizations participated this year. She also noted that all of the Hopkinton Garden Club’s 450 pumpkins were taken by kids in attendance, and the Friends passed out nearly 600 bouquets of flowers donated by Trader Joe’s.

“We had six different bouncy houses, and there was a line at each one of them, all day long,” she said.

The Friends ran this year’s Family Day with almost 100 volunteers, the majority of whom showed up on the day to help out. Maruska said this help is vital during the event, but help still is needed in the planning stages, which begin as early as February.

According to Maruska, there is turnover in the Friends membership and some organizers are getting older, which impacts their ability both to contribute to planning and assist with physical tasks during the event.

“We really need some new people to help out,” Maruska said. “Two more of our longtime members are not coming back next year, so we really need help in making this happen.”

She added that even 10 new volunteers committed to doing “a small piece” of the planning — with mentorship from senior Friends members — would make a difference. Even with high attendance, she warned Family Day would not be sustainable without additional support.

“It’s better if everyone is involved,” said Maruska. She encouraged community members who have free time to lend a hand, and envisioned opportunities to coordinate with other local organizations.

“We’re fully open to any ideas in the community to try and make this continue to happen,” said Maruska.

“It’s not magic that makes Family Day happen,” she added. “It takes some time and some loving and some caring to make it happen.”

— NICK SCHOFIELD

Latest News

The Cemetery Commission on Monday opted out of seeking additional CPC funding for headstone preservation because of grant awards it has yet to spend.

Paul Sullivan, 85, a former Hopkinton resident, passed away Sept. 20.

Country musician Tim Buono will perform at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts on Friday.

The third annual HerSwap community tag sale, which benefits the Hopkinton Parent Teacher Organization and The Herd, will take place Oct. 3.

Town meetings tonight include the Water & Sewer Advisory Board (5) and Hopkinton Historic District Commission (7).

Photo of the Day

Senior Girl Scouts from Troop 82358 gather at the Hopkinton Senior Center on Aug. 26 to celebrate their installation of a garden that encircles the Senior Center sign. Pictured are Cora Gavula (kneeling) and (standing from left) Emma Nguyen, Shreya Rao, Julia Viveiros, Shirsha Chattopadhyay and Senior Center representatives Jessica Fitch and Amy Beck. Working under the guidance of troop co-leaders Vanessa Barker and Jenna Gavula, the Scouts researched, selected and purchased plants with funds they raised before planting the garden, earning Silver Award status for their efforts.