Dean Community Outreach is a volunteer organization dedicated to outreach to the community of Franklin. This club is meant for all students who want to help the community while also teaching students how to lead. I sat down with Colby Newman (head of DCO) and talked about the organization.
I asked Newman about some of the things DCO has done, to which he responded “The organization has done park clean up, food drives, we do this event called build the bed for every child. We have built at least 10 beds for children in need each year.”
Q: “What made you want to join this organization?”
A: “I have always done community service all my life, especially on a big scale. I have talked to senators, done events, done tours for the Vermont state, and volunteered as camp counselor. When I went to Dean, I felt that I wanted volunteer clubs to grow. I always cared about the community.”
Q: “What kinds of upcoming events will there be?”
A: “Upcoming events change every year, as we want to attract every student to make them different. We do build the bed and the Santa Foundation that will always be there every year.”
Q: “How has the organization been doing so far?”
A: “DCO during the fall there was a system before where everyone can be a member and talk in the meeting. When I became the Head leader, this system was not going to work, and that I thought a volunteer system would work better.”
Newman invited me to attend a cleanup of the Woonsocket Cats Sanctuary in Rhode Island. I volunteered to take part in cleaning efforts by the DCO to help the Woonsocket Cat Sanctuary. We all gathered on a bus outside Dean Hall to begin our trip to Woonsocket. When we arrived at our destination, we were amazed by how big the sanctuary was in person. I noticed some cats were roaming the building like they were at home.
We began to go from top to bottom to clean the interior of the building. Some volunteers cleaned the cages, walls, and tables from the second floor, while others, including me, cleaned the first floor of the building. We began to pull some of the bigger cages to clean them inside and outside, and I volunteered to clean the inside. We did this for about an hour, cleaning the cages and some of the walls of the building.
Photo done by Jacob Murtagh
As we did this, we got to see some of the residents that lived there. These cats were very adorable and so sweet, they were the friendliest and kindest animals that we got to see and a moment that we will always remember. Many of the volunteers, including myself, felt attached to these animals and wanted to give them a nice, clean home for them to live in. Many volunteers immediately connected with these animals.
After we finished cleaning the building, I spoke to the director of the Woonsocket Cat Sanctuary, Deb Adams. I asked her about the organization and what its mission is. Adams stated “The Sanctuary is for cats that have been tossed out of their homes or lost. Sometimes they come in and are injured and we take them to the vet, all the cats are vetted as soon as possible. They're given their Leukemia, FIV, and de-worming medications.”
Photo done by Jacob Murtagh
I asked Mrs. Adams how long the Sanctuary had been open. Mrs. Adams stated, “The Sanctuary has been open for 31 years...we were a part of another organization, but we got away from them and ventured for our own." I was very curious about how many cats they have rescued during their time of operation. Mrs. Adams guided me to their desk to look over the numbers in their lodge.
“So, since we started, 10,258 cats have gone through the shelter. Some for assistants, low income we would give them help. We used to have a van that would come here, and they would have to get loaded on the van, they would get their checkups and would come back in the afternoon or the next day," Adams stated. "And people would be here waiting for their cats. That was a great program but unfortunately, after COVID, they did not come back. So now we have a place in Johnston that is low cost, and we send people there. If they need help paying for it, we do that too," Adams continued.
Mrs. Adams also gave me a chance to speak with Assistant Director Gail Desmarais if I had any more questions to ask about the organization and what it has done for the community. Desmarais stated, “I have been Volunteering for about 31 years...we just do the best we can to help homeless cats from Woonsocket, Provide Shelter and medical. We try to find the appropriate home for them.”
Mrs. Adams commented on the adoption process and how they ensure the cats get a suitable home. “We screen, they fill out an adoption paper which is two pages on both sides, and we will check to make sure that the pets go to the vets or not. I dealt with a lady not that long ago, she had her cat for 13 years and never took it to the vet, and she wanted another one and we said no," Adams explained.
Overall, it was an amazing experience to help these animals have a cleaner home for them to stay in. The staff members were nice, and welcoming to us.
If you would like to help volunteer and help outreach to other communities, you can volunteer for DCO and apply to an event through the DCO social media site. DCO helps you as a student develop more skills and experience for the field that you are majoring in and network with other organizations outside of Dean College.
To get more information about DCO, you can visit the SALD office downstairs in the atrium, of the Paula Rooney Student Center. If you also want to help the Woonsocket Cat Sanctuary, you can visit their main building at 226 Mendon Road, Rhode Island. You can also call their phone number, 401-765-4174 to help contribute to the Cat Sanctuary.