Vail Daily letter: Thanks to volunteers
As we enter the season of giving I want to take the opportunity to say thank you to all volunteers for the tremendous gift you give to your community. This gift is much better than a pair of cozy socks or a holiday themed tie, this gift is too important to stuff in a stocking or hide beneath a tree. This gift that you provide your community is your time, talent and compassion by serving the organizations that you serve.
At the American Red Cross, we rely heavily on our volunteer workforce to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies. Volunteers who stand ready to respond at a moment’s notice to a house fire and are there to provide the family with clothing, food, comfort and hope, volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure that we have the resources to respond in a large-scale disaster, volunteers who work to better prepare their communities for emergencies and volunteers who are willing to travel across the country willing to help a total stranger in need who lost their home to a catastrophic disaster. As with many nonprofit organizations, the Red Cross could not do what we do without the power of our volunteers.
The majority of volunteers don’t volunteer for praise, they are not looking for an award, and they are obviously not doing it for the paycheck. Many volunteers say they get back so much more than they give or that they volunteer because they know that it is the right thing to do. While this may be true, volunteers will always be the heart and soul of our nonprofit community and the services we provide.
So in the midst of all of the holiday hustle and bustle, I ask that you take time to pause and thank a volunteer. A volunteer who may be mentoring a local youth, a volunteer who delivers meals, a volunteer who is always there for their neighbor in need. Knowing firsthand the value and importance of volunteerism, I cannot say thank you enough for the gift that volunteers give to our community.
Eric Myers
Support Local Journalism
Executive director, American Red Cross Western Colorado Chapter
