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Volunteers Do It For Free

MADERA COUNTY – April 6 -12 is National Volunteer Week, and it’s hard to imagine a population with more people-power than the mountain area we live in.

We have much to be grateful for, and yet, there’s still so much to be done.

From the classroom to the board room, with money raised and spirits lifted, from H.O.W. to where and when, the foothills are full of souls who do what is needed without being paid.

This week, you can thank them, and if you haven’t already, you can join them.

National Volunteer Week (NVW) is a time to recognize those inspirational individuals who work together to meet community challenges and accomplish seemingly unimaginable goals. It’s also an opportunity to encourage others to step out, step up and do the same.

2014 marks the 40th anniversary of NVW, which began in 1974 and has grown to include thousands of volunteer projects and special events scheduled throughout the week, as groups gather to enact change and make a difference.

The results of volunteering are like that of a stone skipped into a placid lake. Those positive ripples stretch out farther than the eyes can see, or one can imagine.

Whether it’s a refurbished ambulance driven from Oakhurst and delivered to a tiny mountain town in Mexico, or the tens of thousands raised here every year to fight cancer in Walk for Life, or the way someone in their most desperate time is showered with comfort and love, everyone seems to agree: the spirit of giving is strong in these little mountains.

Now is the time to celebrate those around us – and probably you who are reading this – for the dedication to helping others that’s as common up here as poppies in spring. Experienced volunteers will brush off your thanks, because they know a secret: volunteers get as much as they give, it’s just delivered in a different way.

It’s amusing to note that National Volunteer Week’s primary sponsor is Advil. If you’re already a volunteer, you understand why, so pat yourself on the back. If you’ve been thinking about becoming a volunteer, this is a great week to put your plan into action. Contact your local school, church or service organization for ways to help.

Tell SNO about volunteers you have in your organization who do amazing work, or let us know if your group is in need of more help. Email us at editor@sierranewsonline.com.

More information on National Volunteer Week

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Sierra News Online

Sierra News Online