National VolunteerWeek

THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!

April 23-29 is NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK. It's a time to celebrate volunteerism and, most especially, to show appreciation for the volunteers throughout our community who make this a better place to live. Almost each and every one of us has benefited either directly or indirectly from the caring service of a volunteer. Fortunately for us...they are everywhere!

Perhaps you're new here and have been assisted with information about our community by a volunteer working at the Chamber of Commerce. If you (or a loved one) have been in the hospital, an Auxiliary Volunteer may have made the stay a little easier for you or your family. Your child may have received the support and encouragement of

volunteer serving as a mentor in the schools. Food pantries rely on volunteer assistance to

organize and distribute food. Meals are delivered to the homebound through volunteers with the Meals on Wheels program.

Your favorite place to shop may be one of our local thrift stores, which could not operate without the hundreds of hours of dedicated service given by volunteers. Loving care is provided to lost and homeless animals by volunteers at the Humane Society and SPCA. Churches in our community have a wide variety of programs that offer assistance to folks in need and that help is provided by volunteers. Entire homes are constructed by Habitat for Humanity. And, then there are CASA workers, Red Cross volunteers, folks who give their time to assist in Hospice work, and many, many more.

Take a moment, especially during National Volunteer Week, to say thank you to a volunteer you know. Let them know that their spirit of caring and sharing make a difference in our community! Consider volunteering yourself ... the opportunities are varied and endless. By volunteering,

you can become part of America's most valuable assets.

For more information, call Kay at S.A.F.E. (706-3791901). S.A.F.E. is the State certified domestic violence and sexual assault program serving Towns and Union Counties. Partial funding is received from the Georgia Department of Human Resources.