It’s the little things that count.
That’s what avid volunteer and Turner Valley Coun. Barry Crane has to say about volunteerism in Black Diamond and Turner Valley.
“Volunteering, to me, makes a difference in someone’s life by doing the small things and letting that build,” said Crane last week. “If that means shoveling a person’s walk, it’s a small thing but it makes a difference over the whole winter. If you can release small bits of joy in peoples’ lives every day, that makes a difference. I think making small differences in people’s lives for the better adds up over time.”
Crane will speak at the upcoming volunteer appreciation celebration April 19 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Turner Valley Golf Club.
Crane’s dad was an active Lions Club member in Newfoundland and Crane joined when he was 14 years old. He moved to Turner Valley 11 years ago and joined the Foothills Lions Club. Crane recalls being welcomed with open arms.
“It was just like walking into a door back home and saying, ‘Hi,’” he said. “Everyone greeted me with a handshake and smile. You feel at home in a volunteer setting. To come to an area where people are friendly and welcoming makes you feel at home and that builds community.”
Family and Community Support Services in Black Diamond and Turner Valley is hosting the celebration tomorrow to recognize the efforts and contributions by local volunteers for National Volunteer Week April 15-21, which recognizes the more than 12 million volunteers nation-wide.
Volunteers in Black Diamond and Turner Valley assist with community events, emergency services, service organizations and sporting groups and are on boards and committees.
A special presentation will be made to the 2017 Volunteer of the Year Award recipient Yvonne Machan for her contributions to the Citizens on Patrol program.
The more than 100 volunteers expected to attend the event will be treated to food, refreshments and gifts, said Suzan Nagel, Black Diamond FCSS coordinator.
“I think a lot of groups enjoy coming together and they like to see what other groups are out there,” she said. “It’s not just that they’re going there to be appreciated, they’re going there to see what other people are doing as well.”
Nagel said those who attend the appreciation celebration represent just a small number of the communities’ volunteers.
“We understand not everybody can make it and not everybody wants to make it, but we definitely appreciate the immense value that all volunteers, whether they’re doing just a little bit here or there or regularly for a group, it’s all valued and important,” she said. “If everybody does a little bit, nobody burns out and everybody gets a chance to feel involved.”
Nagel said so much that happens in the communities wouldn’t take place if it wasn’t for volunteers, from the community garden to local service groups.
“I’m impressed with the initiative that our volunteers take and I’m impressed with the skills that they bring to the table,” she said. “I think that volunteerism itself is very much a social thing. People enjoy sharing their talents in groups of likeminded people. When they have a passion for something, it feels good to go out there and be involved.”
Many volunteer are seniors, and Nagel said she would like to see more youth.
“We would really like to encourage younger people to start becoming involved because they have a lot of skills that they can bring to the table,” she said. “When you’re retired you have the time. There’s a lot of youth who do have the time because they don’t have those family commitments yet. They would be pleasantly surprised to find out how enjoyable it is.”
Seating is limited so those interested in attending the celebration are asked to register by contacting Suzan Nagel at [email protected]
