Did you help some one today, yesterday, this month? You didn’t have to look very far or spend any cash to help make someone’s day brighter.

This volunteering spirit, alive and well in Freeborn County, deserves to be celebrated during National Volunteer Week, April 15-21. Thank you, everyone, for your time, resourcefulness and energy as a volunteer.

How much does volunteering matter in our communities? A snapshot from our local Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, RSVP, recorded 38,323 hours volunteered by 422 folks over age 55 in the past 12 months. They averaged 91 hours per volunteer at 59 different tasks. At a very modest wage, this is valued at more than $242,682 for the group. What an economic force this creates for all of us!

The total value of volunteering here stretches informally to include volunteers in civic groups, churches, youth programs, athletics, libraries and neighborhoods. On a one to one basis, the value of volunteering to help just one other person is doubled because both folks get the boost in adding life to their years.

Thank you again to our volunteers for today and the tomorrows you share.

 

Pat Stumme

director

Retired and Senior

Volunteer Program

Albert Lea