(Sarah Opdahl, Town Tribune - 7-27-23)

NEW FAIRFIELD - The New Fairfield Community Service Club (CSC) is happy to announce that Karen Jaslow is the recipient of the 2022 Town Hero Award. Jaslow is being recognized for her tireless efforts in support of the New Fairfield Community Thrift Shop at 77 Rte. 39 in Candlewood Corners. Humble, and happy in her work, Jaslow said, “I’m honored, but feel uncomfortable being recognized for something I enjoy doing.”

Jaslow moved to New Fairfield in 2017 and says, “I identified with volunteering at the Thrift Shop as a two-fold opportunity to meet people in my new town while making a contribution to the community. What a gift! I immediately felt a connection with the shop’s mission and volunteers. And I fell in love with this town.”

Fellow Thrift Shop volunteer Mimi Clark nominated Jaslow, noting that she saw a Town Tribune ad and “I normally don’t do things like this, but she came to mind.” Clark added in her nomination, “She’s only been president for a year and a half, but the amount of hours, the amount of work and things she has accomplished this past year is phenominal. She is extremely organized, and nothing is left to question at that shop.” There is no task too big or small that Jaslow has not taken on —from weeding outside or vacuuming inside the shop to overseeing the renovation of the building, cleaning and restoring the exterior, and putting in new flooring and a sump pump.

Jaslow has leaned on her keen business sense and creativity at the shop—she has had careers as a graphic designer, elementary and middle school art teacher, and marketing professional in the past. In addition to her extensive volunteering schedule, she also works with New Fairfield’s youngest learners as a paraprofessional at the elementary level, a position for which she expresses great love.

Jaslow is proud to be one of a multitude of Thrift Shop volunteers who have helped pour ‘back almost one million dollars into the community since our inception in 1994.” She finds it “rewarding…whether chatting with other volunteers, working the cash register, setting displays or cleaning…I consider it an investment in my community.” A tight-knit group of volunteers share unique and interesting experiences together at the shop. For example, they research items for their value in order to price them correctly and were amazed when a resident donated a dive watch with a resale value estimated at $1,200. They priced it for $50 and a customer got a fabulous deal,” Jaslow said.

She shared a story about a customer who “found their feet” after a difficult year. Following several visits for necessities throughout the year, they were in the shop to make a holiday purchase and “placed a $100 donation in our jar on the counter before existing and wishing us all a happy holiday season.”

Jaslow accepts the award on behalf of “all our volunteers past and present, whose selfless dedication and thousands of service hours have made NF Community Thrift Shop the gemstone it is.” The thrift shop is entirely staffed by volunteers and all proceeds are fed back into the town, through scholarships, social services, and through gifts to a variety of community service organizations and projects. Its a “Win/win,” she said going on to say, “I think every town could benefit from having a thrift shop like ours, we’re here to serve as an affordable, sustainable, retail option that pours all proceeds back into the community.”

In its fifth year, the CSC’s Town Hero Award was originally created following the massive May 2018 microburst storm, from which countless heroes emerged. The CSC has worked to help the community since 1983. They orchestrate the Kids Dress for Succes program, providing back-to-school clothes for children. They also offer Amber Alert registration, NFHS scholarships, and support the NF Social Services, the Senior Center, and dozens of other community service projects and fundraising recipients.