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10/18/2017 08:30 AMA few years ago, Paulette DeMaio saw social media posts about Veteran’s Day and was motivated to start an event to assist local veterans. This year, she and a team of volunteers will visit the homes of veterans on Saturday, Nov. 11 to clean-up leaves as a way of giving back to those who served.
Volunteers for this year’s clean-up will meet at the North Haven Congregational Church at 9 a.m. for coffee and donuts, with a greeting by elected officials. After that, the crowd breaks into crews and starts the clean-up effort.
“It’s a really good collaboration of a bunch of different people in the community,” Paulette says.
Paulette says she tries to collaborate with groups and organizations in town and that local churches, fraternities, sororities, Girl Scout troops, the Rotary Club, and sports teams have volunteered their time in past clean-ups. Every year, a local high school teacher gathers students to get busy and earn community service hours.
While there are official Veteran’s Day ceremonies, Paulette says there are so many veterans in town and she wanted to do something tangible to help them.
“When I started to meet with the veterans, I could really see the need because people are older and they can’t get out there and rake leaves, and they’re on fixed income so they can’t really afford to pay someone to do the leaves,” she says, “They’re really always so, so grateful when they see the different people come to their house.”
Paulette also wanted to share that it’s not just veterans, but also widows of veterans, who can sign up to have their yard cleaned. She’s worked with different offices and departments in town to compile a list of houses, and people will also call if they hear about the effort. Last year, Paulette says 20 yards were completed by about 100 volunteers.
While she does the organizing, Paulette says it’s all about the volunteers who come out to help. She has a “right-hand man,” Angelo Appi, who’s been with her since the beginning and gets a big group of people to help.
Paulette says it’s a way to give back, as the veterans have sacrificed for everyone by serving their country. She hopes that people in other towns see what they’re doing in North Haven and introduce it to their communities as well.
“It’s just a little thing that we can do as a community to say thanks, we appreciate you,” Paulette says.
In addition to being a positive way to help veterans, Paulette says it’s also a good family activity, with parents bringing their children to join the clean-up.
With so much happening in such a short timeframe, she gets a little nervous before the event takes place, but says that everything comes together and it’s awesome for her to work with great volunteers.
Volunteers tell her it’s a great sense of fulfillment for them to meet the veterans and do something for them, and most people come back again the next year. All that’s needed to participate is a rake, but some people have even brought landscaping equipment.
Paulette has met some memorable residents, including a Korean War veteran who described his service in “The Forgotten War.”
“So, he got teared up when I was having conversation with him and I said, ‘Well, we didn’t forget you; we’re going to do your yard,’” Paulette says, “We’re doing his yard again this year, too.”
Paulette says the stories that she and others hear from the veterans are amazing. Another veteran she spoke with told her he was supposed to go out on a mission, but got sick. A friend of his volunteered to go out for him, and unfortunately got killed during the mission.
“I just think that sometimes we don’t realize what it means to really go to war,” Paulette says.
Always one to help others and the community, Paulette is also a member of the Rotary Club and works at the Columbus House in New Haven as a case manager for people that have been homeless. She used to run a non-profit organization and has been on mission trips to Haiti and Romania.
“I just think it’s important for us in society to help out other people when they need it, and then you never know when you’re going to need it,” Paulette says.
For more information, to volunteer, or to add a veteran’s home for the Veteran’s Day clean-up, email servingveterans112@gmail.com or call Paulette at 203-824-6707.