Here & There Column 5-6-08

Volunteers Are Hard To Find

Websters dictionary defines the word "volunteer" as "one who performs or gives services of his own free will," and "to enter into or offer to enter into an undertaking of one's own free will."
Certainly sounds simple to understand but when it comes right down to the point of getting folks to volunteer sometimes leaves organizations having to make serious decisions that have a direct effect on services they offer.
Two emergency organizations, the volunteer fire department and ambulance corps for years have seen lower and lower numbers of volunteers joining their ranks.
Now who would ever think that folks would not want to serve their communities and fellow human beings as volunteer firemen or volunteer ambulance corps members but some of our fire departments and ambulance corps have had to merge with others or reduce services.
Volunteers are also the core of many community groups such as our local Little Leagues, softball leagues, American Legion baseball, fall youth football, soccer leagues, boy and girl scouts, cub scouts, volunteers to help in local hospitals and the list goes on and on.
Many religions activities of all faiths are run by volunteers and assist the members of their clergy where they can.
We had first hand contact last summer with some of the volunteers of the Sullivan County Alzheimer's committee and often touch base with volunteer members of the American Red Cross and they all have to work extra hard not only in their fund raising efforts but in getting volunteer help to carry out the mission of their cause.
Being active in the sports of bowling and golf we continue to see folks backing away from volunteering their time to help the cause their treasure.
We do understand that times have changed when years ago a lot of people seemed to have time on their hands and this of course meant they had time to volunteer for whatever organization or group they belonged to or wanted to support.
Fiscal responsibility today sometimes warrants couples to work two jobs just to get by and this can certainly be a contributing factor in getting volunteer help.
If you can spare some volunteer time think about the needs of the above listed organizations and also here are just a few additional areas where help can be used......staff and help keep in repair a local playground, gather together leaning material and books for various local youth programs, give help in local children advocacy groups, give some time working with children and adults with learning disabilities and don't forget the efforts to prevent teen substance abuse.
We have just celebrated National Volunteer Week, April 27-May 3...............time is so precious to all of us but just a little volunteer help will be greatly appreciated by these and many other groups and organization.