Here at the Outlook, we believe it would be difficult, perhaps impossible, to actually place a value on work done by volunteers in our communities.
In fact, we believe calling volunteers the lifeblood of our communities is not overstating the situation.
That’s why, with this week being national volunteer week, we would like to throw a blanket thank you out there to everyone who volunteers locally.
If you think about it, and you should, it would be hard to imagine life in our communities without volunteer cub and brownie leaders, for example, or sports teams without volunteer coaches behind the bench or on the sidelines, or church groups, health care organizations, festivals, races, food banks, community dinners, etc. moving ahead without those who lend a hand.
Indeed, if all of the above groups had to pay staff, undoubtedly most events would never have seen the light of day, let alone be years into their particular tradition.
Many in Banff who have been honoured with SHINE Awards were nominated on the strength of outstanding community service. In Canmore, this is the 27th annual mayor’s awards for volunteer excellence – an ongoing tribute to those who go above and beyond in their community.
Without volunteers, for example, would Canmore be looking at a 39th year for the Canmore Folk Music Festival? It’s the longest running such event in this province.
Can you imagine visits to our hospitals without the invaluable assistance of ladies auxiliary groups in making them more welcoming?
Can you imagine how many people have been touched by service groups like Lions, Rotary, IODE, etc. over the years?
Not likely, unless you happen to be one of those touched by the efforts of volunteers from so many of these groups. Then you know how valuable they are.
The trouble is, so much of what happens on the strength of volunteers happens because of relatively small groups within our communities. Every year at the Outlook we hear stories of volunteer burnout; where volunteers who have lent a hand to many efforts have finally said ‘enough’ as they feel the need to turn to their own needs more critically.
And right here we’ll happily point out that many, many of our volunteers have been doing so for a long time. Today, many volunteers would fall under the seniors category; that’s great, but it does suggest that over the years there has been something of a lack of new blood being incorporated into our volunteer groups.
It’s safe to say, we feel, that if new volunteers do not step up to the plate, some of the events that are running now may cease to exist. One of the problems with so many new events taking place in the valley in recent years is that they, too, are running on the strength of volunteers who are becoming thinner on the ground, or stretched beyond their limits.
For the most part, volunteer opportunities do not require a massive time commitment and, of course, the more the merrier, and what’s the saying ...? “Many hands make light work.”
Mathematically, it’s simple; the more people who lend a hand, the fewer people have to carry the bulk of the load.
For this week, national volunteer week, maybe it’s time for you to look into lending a hand in some way to one of the many, many volunteer groups in our valley.
