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Hopkinton council hears pitch to launch ‘Wood River Village’ volunteer program for older residents
Summary
Councilor Davis presented materials about starting a Wood River Village — a volunteer-run service network — and asked residents to sign up as volunteers and ambassadors.
Councilor Davis told the Hopkinton Town Council on Sept. 15 that Hopkinton is part of a combined effort to create the Wood River Village, a volunteer-run network aimed at helping older residents remain connected and independent.
Councilor Davis said the village concept is not a physical place but a membership-supported service model that begins with volunteers offering transportation, tech help, light household maintenance and social contact. Volunteers will receive training and background checks, the councilor said, and the Hopkinton Recreation Department will train local service coordinators to answer member requests. The Ashaway and Langworthy libraries have volunteered to train as membership ambassadors.
Councilor Davis asked residents interested in volunteering to contact volunteer@villagecommonri.org and said volunteer applications are available at Town Hall and on the Hopkinton Town website. A Zoom steering meeting was scheduled to continue organizing the effort.
At the meeting, a speaker noted that the organization operates as a 501(c)(3) and said it accepts federal and state grants and donations; the same speaker additionally said the organization “is not in compliance with executive orders on DEI.” That comment was not expanded on and no formal council action followed; the council received the informational presentation.
No funding request or ordinance was presented to the council during the discussion.
The council agreed to circulate volunteer brochures and application packets on the front table and to follow up as the steering committee meets.
