Most of the time, when we think of community leaders, we think of politicians or well-known business owners.
But the real people who make a town what it is are often the determined volunteers who work behind the scenes to keep social safety nets strong and make sure that local voices are heard.
In Suffield, Connecticut, Elizabeth Kaplan is one of the few people who truly embody this quiet, unwavering devotion.
Kaplan is the President of Suffield Community Aid (SCA) and a key member of The Suffield Observer team. His name is now linked to community work.
Her work has an effect on the most vulnerable people in the town and also helps to record the past of the area.
People who want to learn how to be a good local citizen can learn a lot from Kaplan’s career journey. It shows how long-term organizational leadership can change the health of a town.
Early Life and Family Roots
Elizabeth Kaplan keeps her personal life private, but her desire to help others seems to come from a deep place in her family tree.
Her parents, Thomas Lee Wardell and Anita Augsburger, died when she was young. As a mechanical engineer and project manager, her dad worked hard to help the people of Suffield.
He was known for his work with the Suffield Public Works Committee and the First Church of Christ Congregational.
This history of public service certainly had an effect on Kaplan. People said that her father “unwaveringly gave of his time and many talents.” Elizabeth has continued to do the same thing in her adult life.
Kaplan lives in Suffield with her husband, Michael Kaplan. Like her family before her, she puts a lot of effort into the place she calls home.
Leading the Safety Net: Suffield Community Aid
The most important thing that Kaplan has done professionally so far is become the head of Suffield Community Aid (SCA), a private, non-profit social services organization that has helped the town since 1903.
Rising Through the Ranks
Each time Kaplan has joined the SCA, he has been given more and more power. Forms and yearly reports from non-profits say she was Vice President of the Board of Directors from 2022 to 2024. She became President at the end of the fiscal year in June 2025.
This change happened at a very important time for the company. As President, Kaplan is in charge of a Board of Directors that is in charge of an organization that helps people who are having trouble with money, health, or losing their jobs.
Navigating Shifting Community Needs
During Kaplan’s chair of the SCA in the fiscal year of 2025, the group faced and overcame big problems.
The group said there was a change in what the community needed, especially a sharp rise in service requests from seniors and people with disabilities.
During her tenure, the organization navigated:
- Increased Food Insecurity: The Fiore Food Pantry saw a 25% increase in visits, supporting 156 different families.
- Health & Wellness Expansion: Medicare counseling appointments rose by 31%, and medical equipment loans increased by 25%.
- Financial Aid Distribution: The team helped residents access over $265,000 in funding assistance, bridging the gap for those struggling with fuel costs, housing, and utilities.
As President, Kaplan is responsible for more than just running the company. He also makes sure it can change as needed.
The 2025 Annual Report said that the SCA had to tailor its answers to be more adaptable. This strategic shift shows that the board has strong leadership.
A Voice for the Town: The Suffield Observer
Not only does Kaplan help people with social problems, but she also helps the town’s culture and informational health by working for The Suffield Observer, a community newspaper run by volunteers.
Kaplan has worked as a Prod Team member and as an Assistant Editor. As local news fades, community-run papers are an important way for people to get involved in their government.
Kaplan’s job is to make sure that the people of Suffield get correct information at the right time.
Whether it’s proofreading, layout, or editorial help, she helps keep a platform going that keeps local stories alive, from high school sports to town hall choices.
Contributions to Social Welfare and Education
Kaplan’s work is based on a comprehensive view of neighborhood well-being. There are three main areas where her work has made a difference:
1. Strengthening Social Safety Nets
As a leader at the SCA, Kaplan helps run a group that helps people right away in a real way.
This includes the “Grab-and-Go” Mini Food Pantry, which had to be restocked every other day in 2025, and the management of the United Way Rapid Response funds to keep people from becoming homeless.
Because of how she runs things, these programs stay funded, organized, and open to people who might not want to ask for help.
2. Supporting Youth and Education
For the next generation, Kaplan is like a guardian. The Forward Focus Scholarship and the Meghan Voisine “Kindness Matters” Scholarship are two big scholarships that the SCA gives to high school students who are graduating.
Because Kaplan is on the board that gives out these funds, he helps local students pay for college by keeping an eye on it.
3. Combatting Senior Isolation
A big part of Kaplan’s work at the SCA has been on the growing number of older people. Some examples of leadership that cares about more than just money are the “Friendly Visitor” program, which pairs seniors with workers to help them feel less alone.
Awards and Recognition
Elizabeth Kaplan is often the one giving awards to other people, like the funds the SCA gives out. But her own recognition comes from the trust her peers have in her.
Being elected as president of a historic non-profit like Suffield Community Aid is a big deal in the business world.
It shows that her fellow board members and the community have a lot of faith in her ability to handle tough social issues and her duty to the community.
She has also been on the editorial staff of The Suffield Observer for a long time, which shows that people trust her with community knowledge.
Personal Life and Interests
Elizabeth Kaplan stays out of the spotlight because she wants her work to do the talking. Zoe and Phoebe Kaplan are her two children.
Her life in Suffield is tied to that of her large family, which includes her sister Jennifer Edmonds.
Her personal hobbies seem to be very similar to the work she does for the government. Being the president of a non-profit and the editor of a newspaper at the same time shows a strong interest in community organizing, giving back to the community, and local history.
A Legacy of Service
There are charts at the food pantry, meeting minutes, and pages in the local paper that are being used to write Elizabeth Kaplan’s legacy right now. It is a legacy that is marked by care.
In a small town, the “safety net” is not just an idea; it’s a group of friends who are willing to catch people who fall. Kaplan has made herself the most important person in that safety net.
She is trying to keep the things that make Suffield a strong community together by leading the SCA through the changes in the economy that happened after the pandemic and making sure that the town’s newspaper keeps running.
Conclusion
People often look for Elizabeth Kaplan Suffield by that name because she was very connected to the town.
She is a reminder that the most important leaders are often the ones who are doing the work on the ground.
From the boardrooms of Suffield Community Aid to the production desk of The Suffield Observer, her work history shows how important it is to be involved in your community.
For people who live in Suffield, she’s like a neighbor who makes sure the heat stays on, the pantry stays stocked, and the news gets written. For the rest of us, she shows us how to do our civic job in real life.
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