County's volunteers deserve a round of thanks

“You can’t light the fire of passion in someone else if it doesn’t burn in you to begin with.” – Thomas L. Friedman, author of “The World Is Flat.”

According to Helpguide.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to volunteerism, “almost half of American households have at least one adult doing some volunteer work. These volunteers give, on average, close to 5 hours per week to a wide range of activities.” There are numerous reasons people volunteer, but the most common reason is because they want to help others. This stands true in Jackson County as well.  

The power in our community comes from what we put into it, not what we take from it. That is why Jackson County holds an annual Volunteer Recognition Ceremony. This year it fell on May 1.

More than 800 people volunteer with our Parks and Recreation Department. Not all 800 were present at the ceremony, but the room was full. I felt lucky to be included. And, again, I was amazed by the energy, dedication, and passion that lit up the room by this extraordinary group of citizens. 
 
Our volunteers are the success of our programs and events. They help educate and assist the public. They open up new doors of understanding and help us to imagine beyond our realm of comfort and familiarity. They have the freedom to offer what they have, whenever and wherever it’s needed and are willing to do so. They have tremendous power to influence the numerous visitors who come through our parks system each year. They inspire, they sacrifice, and they make a difference. 

So, the truth is, we need our volunteers.

The ability of all of these wonderful people to help Jackson County address our issues of concern, as well as theirs, truly makes our community a better place for everyone now and in the future. Thank you to each and every one of our volunteers for all you do!