Welcome to our Website & Community - Our Backyard!
BACKYARD HUMANITARIAN:
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We work to help ease another's burden during difficult times.
We raise awareness and help with meaningful local causes.
We support each other & the efforts to help others.
We highlight and focus on the good we can do and the good that is happening all around.
We help all people, animals and the environment.
We practice kindness, non-judgement and empathy; for others, for ourselves, everyone, always!
We are families, teams, students, groups, small businesses, large corporations, kids, adults.
Sound like you? Please join us. Everyone is welcomed. Everyone belongs.
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OUR BH LOCATIONS so far... CONNECTICUT'S KINDEST Stamford, Darien, New Canaan, Easton, Newtown, Weston, Milford, Danbury NORTH CAROLINA'S KINDEST New Bern Form a BH Team in YOUR COMMUNITY, BACKYARD HUMANITARIAN® in your community
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How we do our BH work...
Locally & heartfelt! We are 100% volunteer.
Locally & heartfelt! We are 100% volunteer.
- We learn about the needs in our community. We communicate, coordinate, and then share ideas & action plans to help.
- We coordinate item drives! We collect and give the in-kind items directly to those in need.
- We raise awareness about local needs and the ways to get involved.
- We provide guidance and referrals for services that are needed.
- We customize volunteer projects for individuals and groups that help in meaningful and effective ways.
- We participate in charitable events that benefit the local community.
- We support, collaborate & partner with other local groups, organizations and businesses.
- We encourage volunteering in the community with BH and also with other volunteer organizations.
- We highlight and focus on good people, kind actions and positive things going on within our community.
- We help guide kids with age appropriate learning so they can lead / participate in volunteer projects.
- We practice kindness, empathy, caring compassion, for all. Always.
From Stamford Community Leaders
Former Stamford, CT Mayor, Michael Pavia
"It was a scramble to provide just the basic necessities and the hardest thing, one of the most important things to find, were coats," Mayor Michael Pavia said. "Backyard Humanitarian came through, they came through in no time at all."
Ronnie Tella, American Red Cross - Connecticut/Rhode Island Chapter
“Before Hurricane Irene hit Connecticut, the Red Cross was putting materials in place for possible sheltering. As with any disaster, you are never certain if your volunteers will be available because they may very well be affected by the disaster and may not be able to help. This is exactly what happened when Irene hit Connecticut and the Red Cross was asked to open a shelter at Stamford High School. The entire state was affected one way or another. Except for staff and a few volunteers, we went to Stamford High to wait for the residents to arrive for food and shelter from the storm. We were so short handed to man a 24-hour shift and we reached out to Backyard Humanitarian for help. Angela Malizia, who is one of the Red Cross Disaster Action Team Leaders, called her Backyard Humanitarian volunteers to help us. Immediately, we got responses on availability to help. The Red Cross does not respond to disasters without the help of our community partners. As community partners, Backyard Humanitarian assisted us in all aspects of setting up the shelter for the Stamford residents, registering them, serving meals and listening to their fears and concerns. Backyard Humanitarian is one group that I am happy to have on our team.” – Ronnie Tella, Director of Emergency Services, Connecticut Chapter American Red Cross
Julia Wade, Domus
“Backyard Humanitarian is a 21st Century model of how to harness social media to engage and empower individuals at a hyper-local level on behalf of worthy organizations, causes and needs. It is a true partner – helping Domus spread the word quickly and easily to a growing circle of friends – who are able in-turn to respond; be it a khaki or coat drive, a Done-In-A-Day project or a request for long-term help. Kudos to Angela Malizia and the Backyard Humanitarians!” - Julia Wade Volunteer Coordinator, DOMUS
Louise Moss, Women’s Mentor Network
“I want to take this opportunity to thank you and all of your volunteers for enriching our agency services with your donations and gifts of time. There are no words to express the gratitude with which your collection of family Christmas gifts and beautiful handmade women's scarves were received. Our mothers and children are warm because you cared enough to sponsor the coat drive. You've donated, hauled and moved equipment to make our office more comfortable and efficient. A heartfelt thanks to you all.”- Louise Moss, Executive Director, Women’s Mentor Network
Chris Berlingo, Stamford Youth Hockey Association
“Backyard Humanitarian has touched the lives of many. I reached out to about 120 families at Stamford Youth Hockey to join in and it touched theirs as well.” Stamford Youth Hockey has helped with our collection drives; donating hundreds of coats, truckloads of food and also have provided Christmas gifts for almost 50 families. “We are very happy to be a part of this and I’m very proud of SYHA for their support of Backyard Humanitarian.”- Chris Berlingo, President, Stamford Youth Hockey Association
Stamford Police Association
“I first heard of the Backyard Humanitarians when some friends of mine were collecting coats for the needy in 2010. I rapidly saw this Stamford based grass roots organization grow and heard about all of the wonderful things they were doing within the community. As a Co-Chair for the Stamford Police Association Timothy Coppola Bike Helmet Giveaway I thought I would speak to BH and see if they could supply some volunteers that we needed for our event with about 2 weeks notice. Knowing that we typically have in excess of 70 volunteers I thought perhaps I could get a few from them. To my surprise at our helmet fitting class prior to the event we had between 40-50 volunteers show up to learn the proper way to fit a bike helmet. On event day there were even more that arrived (80 volunteers, kids and adults). No job was too big or too small for them. Those that were not fitting helmets helped us with crowd control and making sure all of the volunteers were hydrated and the list just goes on. Angela was a pleasure to work with and all of her volunteers were professional. I would not hesitate to enlist their help at our next event and any other charitable events going forward.”-Melodye Colucci
"It was a scramble to provide just the basic necessities and the hardest thing, one of the most important things to find, were coats," Mayor Michael Pavia said. "Backyard Humanitarian came through, they came through in no time at all."
Ronnie Tella, American Red Cross - Connecticut/Rhode Island Chapter
“Before Hurricane Irene hit Connecticut, the Red Cross was putting materials in place for possible sheltering. As with any disaster, you are never certain if your volunteers will be available because they may very well be affected by the disaster and may not be able to help. This is exactly what happened when Irene hit Connecticut and the Red Cross was asked to open a shelter at Stamford High School. The entire state was affected one way or another. Except for staff and a few volunteers, we went to Stamford High to wait for the residents to arrive for food and shelter from the storm. We were so short handed to man a 24-hour shift and we reached out to Backyard Humanitarian for help. Angela Malizia, who is one of the Red Cross Disaster Action Team Leaders, called her Backyard Humanitarian volunteers to help us. Immediately, we got responses on availability to help. The Red Cross does not respond to disasters without the help of our community partners. As community partners, Backyard Humanitarian assisted us in all aspects of setting up the shelter for the Stamford residents, registering them, serving meals and listening to their fears and concerns. Backyard Humanitarian is one group that I am happy to have on our team.” – Ronnie Tella, Director of Emergency Services, Connecticut Chapter American Red Cross
Julia Wade, Domus
“Backyard Humanitarian is a 21st Century model of how to harness social media to engage and empower individuals at a hyper-local level on behalf of worthy organizations, causes and needs. It is a true partner – helping Domus spread the word quickly and easily to a growing circle of friends – who are able in-turn to respond; be it a khaki or coat drive, a Done-In-A-Day project or a request for long-term help. Kudos to Angela Malizia and the Backyard Humanitarians!” - Julia Wade Volunteer Coordinator, DOMUS
Louise Moss, Women’s Mentor Network
“I want to take this opportunity to thank you and all of your volunteers for enriching our agency services with your donations and gifts of time. There are no words to express the gratitude with which your collection of family Christmas gifts and beautiful handmade women's scarves were received. Our mothers and children are warm because you cared enough to sponsor the coat drive. You've donated, hauled and moved equipment to make our office more comfortable and efficient. A heartfelt thanks to you all.”- Louise Moss, Executive Director, Women’s Mentor Network
Chris Berlingo, Stamford Youth Hockey Association
“Backyard Humanitarian has touched the lives of many. I reached out to about 120 families at Stamford Youth Hockey to join in and it touched theirs as well.” Stamford Youth Hockey has helped with our collection drives; donating hundreds of coats, truckloads of food and also have provided Christmas gifts for almost 50 families. “We are very happy to be a part of this and I’m very proud of SYHA for their support of Backyard Humanitarian.”- Chris Berlingo, President, Stamford Youth Hockey Association
Stamford Police Association
“I first heard of the Backyard Humanitarians when some friends of mine were collecting coats for the needy in 2010. I rapidly saw this Stamford based grass roots organization grow and heard about all of the wonderful things they were doing within the community. As a Co-Chair for the Stamford Police Association Timothy Coppola Bike Helmet Giveaway I thought I would speak to BH and see if they could supply some volunteers that we needed for our event with about 2 weeks notice. Knowing that we typically have in excess of 70 volunteers I thought perhaps I could get a few from them. To my surprise at our helmet fitting class prior to the event we had between 40-50 volunteers show up to learn the proper way to fit a bike helmet. On event day there were even more that arrived (80 volunteers, kids and adults). No job was too big or too small for them. Those that were not fitting helmets helped us with crowd control and making sure all of the volunteers were hydrated and the list just goes on. Angela was a pleasure to work with and all of her volunteers were professional. I would not hesitate to enlist their help at our next event and any other charitable events going forward.”-Melodye Colucci