National Volunteer week gives us an opportunity to shine a light on those that serve their communities by sharing their immeasurable time and talents. In addition to our volunteer board members, Apalachicola Main Street volunteers serve on committees, work at events and promote our historic downtown district. We want to acknowledge these individuals for their invaluable contributions to their community. 

Today we want to recognize Connie Finneran, our outstanding volunteer coordinator who always shows up and ultimately makes Apalachicola a better place to live. As we shine a spotlight on Connie, we also want to reward her with a token of our appreciation by sending her a gift certificate from ShopApalachicola.com, where she can find anything that her kind heart desires.

And to all of our Volunteers,  THANK YOU!

Volunteer Spotlight: Connie Finneran

In Her Own Words

“I first passed through Apalachicola in 1995 as a recently widowed lady on a road trip with my teenage son. At the time I was oddly attracted to this little sleepy Southern town and had to stop. I told my son, “I would love to live here some day.” He answered, “Mom, why?”  Time passed and my life went off on a journey I never anticipated.

I met a fellow vagabond, got married and ended up living on a sailboat for 13 years sailing the Caribbean, to South America, across the pond to Europe and North Africa. Although we loved the life we were living, we eventually thought it might be time to head back to the US and find a place to settle down. We wanted to be part of a community again with friends that didn’t change with the sailing season.

  We ended up sailing into Apalachicola and anchored off town. We found many of the things on our wish list: a town we could walk and bike in, a wonderful library, friendly people, a lively pub music scene. We got involved immediately volunteering at the food pantry. We ended up buying a cottage downtown and making Apalachicola our permanent home.

  I always had promised myself that when I settled somewhere I was going to try to be friendly and helpful to tourists as so many people had helped me in many different countries. I volunteered to be in the Hospitality Booth at a Apalachicola Main Street event and found my niche. I love talking to people, finding out where they are from and guiding them toward their interests and needs. From that experience I met newcomers to town and discovered they are looking to be part of this community and are looking for opportunities to help.

I love being the Volunteer Coordinator for both Apalachicola Main Street organization and also for PALS (Friends of the Apalachicola Library). My goal with both is to connect volunteers– both old and new– with opportunities in the community and to promote communication with those volunteers. And especially to thank them for all their hard work.”

-Connie Finneran