This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
08/16/2017 08:30 AMPeople in town may have heard the name Renae Voira, which should come as no surprise based on the volunteer work she has done throughout the town. Renae shared stories about helping out with events such as the annual Tree Lighting and her involvement with various Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs) around town.
“With me, there’s no ulterior motive,” Renae says, “The bottom line is, I just want the kids to enjoy themselves, have a great time, enjoy life while they’re young.”
A couple of years ago, Renae was approached by Chamber of Commerce President Jennifer Higham about getting involved with the tree lighting ceremony because of her involvement with the PTOs around town. Renae got the PTOs involved, and they provided an area for the children who attended to do a craft or holiday activity.
She also helped with getting donations from local business and chamber members, and says it was very successful. Another year, she reached out to the high school, middle school, and St. Vincent de Paul’s religious education department to get volunteers, which she said made the ceremony much more organized.
In this case, she may have a little bit of an ulterior motive.
“I love Christmas, I love the holidays, I love anything that incorporates the children, especially into the town,” Renae says, “They’re our future, these kids, and I figure teaching them what community service is all about now, while they’re young; hopefully when they get older, they’ll give back to the community the same way.”
A member of the East Haven Tree Lighting Committee for the past several years, she also received a community service award from the Chamber for her efforts with the tree lighting.
Renae has been a member of several PTOs throughout the years, and says she started getting involved when her daughter entered the school district around second grade. She says she started off as a room mother, and “it just turned into something else.”
When Carbone School was still active, Renae says she was inspired by three women who were on that PTO board at the time.
“They asked for help, and then when I saw the difference that they made, and the smile on the kids’ faces and how much they really made a difference in some of the families’ lives, that was it, I was hooked,” Renae says.
She says the children are so appreciative towards her, and by the end of the year, parents will thank her for the efforts that she gives over the course of a school year. She says it’s because she really cares for the kids.
“It’s all genuine…everything is straight from my heart,” Renae says.
She also teaches CCD at St. Vincent de Paul, where she teaches 5th and 6th graders, and has also been involved with East Haven’s Back to School Picnic for several years.
The principal at Tuttle School at the time wanted to bring the picnic tradition to town to help students get excited for the school year. Renae says she helped out by getting people and businesses involved with donations, including businesses such as Home Depot and Chili’s.
“We had a lot of people that just donated stuff, with no need for recognition; no money in return,” Renae says.
She says the kids looked forward to it, and it was another way to provide a “family fun day” at little to no expense for the families. She says she’s very frank and to the point with the businesses and people she talks with because she doesn’t want to disappoint the kids, and appreciates whatever they are able to put in, no matter how big or little it may be.
In addition to all of that, she has helped by volunteering and coaching a few youth sports teams in town, helped Cub Scout and Girl Scout troops, and has pitched in for clothing, food, and toy drives.
Renae is currently employed as a business associate at the Musculoskeletal Care Center at Yale New Haven Hospital. Prior to that, she worked at Saint Raphael as a unit clerk for 19 years and as a clinical/orthopedic technician for five years, and was the recipient of The Seton Award of Excellence in 2009, which is given to an employee who demonstrates compassionate patient care.
“I did patient care for a good 10, 12 years and I loved every minute of it,” Renae says.
When the opportunity for the business associate position came up, Renae says she jumped on it, in part for the schedule. She says she’s around during the day so she can participate in school stuff, such as going field trips and helping with the PTOs, and balance her family life.
Renae says she does what she does not for the recognition, but because she wants to do it and has a passion for charity work.
“I always say if I ever hit the lotto...I would love to do something great for the community, for the youth, for research in medicine in certain things…just do something that would make a difference,” Renae says.