National Volunteer Week

Published 9:35 am Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Look around you. Chances are a family member, a friend, or a neighbor volunteer for a non-profit organization here on Lopez Island. Perhaps you have the satisfaction of volunteering yourself. No one knows exactly how many individuals volunteer here or how many hours are given, but we all know that this island would not be what it is without the generosity and dedication of volunteers.

Take the opportunity to thank a volunteer during National Volunteer Week, April 12 through 18.

National Volunteer Week is about the people who make it possible for so many of us to stay on the island. It’s about taking action in the community. It’s about bonding and banding together. And it’s about encouraging our neighbors to volunteer for their organization of choice.

Lopez Island Hospice and Home Support is one of the many organizations that benefit from the services of volunteers. More than 50 people volunteer to help our neighbors in need. Mary O’Bryant, Manager of Client Services, said “I can’t tell you how much we appreciate what our volunteers do. Many of our clients would not be able to stay at home without their help.”

During National Volunteer Week, take a moment to thank the volunteers who work with so many organizations on Lopez Island. And please consider sharing your time and talents with an organization here on the island. As O’Bryant said, “You get back so much more than you put into it.”

—