Volunteers help steer Launch

Hamilton, Ohio – The Fitton Center knows how Blanche DuBois felt.

The distressed damsel in Tennessee Williams’ classic A Streetcar Named Desire famously said she always depended on the kindness of strangers.

So do we.

Except Fitton Center volunteers are not strangers. What they are is kind. And generous. But apparently not very good at telling time.

Caroline Digiovenale, the Fitton Center’s assistant director of education and outreach, said 28 volunteers signed up for hour-long shifts during Season Launch: Fun & Games on August 15. Yet those 28 volunteers logged 45 hours of service, an average of 1:36 per volunteer.

Talk about going the extra mile? Season Launch volunteers worked more than time-and-a-half.

“We couldn’t do an event like Season Launch without our volunteers,” Digiovenale said. “We really appreciate all they do for the guests and for the staff. They help make sure everything runs smoothly.

“We had more than 500 people in the building over a four-hour span. (Editor’s note: Volunteer greeters counted them all.) Volunteers are usually the first people guests see when they arrive. We have greeters on the door and in the lobby to welcome each guest and help keep traffic flowing.”

For starters.

Volunteers also served in each of five art galleries, helped package Bake Sale purchases, assisted with crafts at the Creation Station and worked on game building in Studio 104. Volunteers also handled distribution, instruction and collection of the first-ever Fitton Bingo cards.

Who volunteers? People of all ages and backgrounds, including youth groups, scouts, students looking for service hours. community organizations, civic boosters, retirees and philanthropic committees, plus individuals with some time to spare who simply enjoy being around the arts.

“But you don’t have to have any arts experience or expertise,” Digiovenale said. “All you need is the willingness to donate your time. We can train you on the rest.”

As the season progresses, volunteers serve as ushers and ticket takers for performances. They’ll be involved in Liberty Fall Fest and Operation Pumpkin in the coming months. Even if guests don’t see a volunteer at a community event, there’s a good chance one helped prepare the craft materials for the day’s activity.

To learn more about the Fitton Center volunteer program - sponsored by Jackie and Bill Groth - please visit the volunteers page our website or write Caroline at caroline@fittoncenter.org.

The Fitton Center for Creative Arts is located at 101 S. Monument Avenue on the Riverfront in downtown Hamilton, Ohio.

Building Community Excellence through the Arts and Culture