This week (April 18 – 24) is National Volunteer Week. Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week is an “opportunity to recognize the impact of volunteer service and the power of volunteers to tackle society’s greatest challenges, to build stronger communities, and to be a force that transforms the world.”
Of course, volunteerism has looked a little different these past 13 months or so as COVID-19 has changed the way we live, work, and serve our communities. And, although the total number of volunteer hours logged naturally declined over the last year, Community Action’s volunteers rose to the occasion, adapting to new methods and strategies designed to help meet the needs of our agency and its participants. A few examples include:
- The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Clinic going virtual in 2021, to date having returned nearly $225,000 in tax refunds and credits back to low-income households
- Volunteers finding a way to safely craft and distribute educational kits for students in our Head Start program
- Community members coming together to participate in Community Action’s first ever Slow Roll Bike Ride
- And community members coming together again to take part in the Midway-Frogtown University Avenue Cleanup event
So, to our volunteers, in recognition of all your time, effort, and resiliency during a difficult year, we say THANK YOU! The impact that you make in the lives of those we serve is indelible.
