Volunteering not limited to a day or week, but constantly

There is a day, week and month devoted to just about anything these days. For a while, “Speak like a pirate” day was unique. But then along came “donut” day, “take your dog to work” day, “stay in bed until noon” day, which all in theory could be every day.

There are literally calendars devoted to letting you know what day it is. Wait - calendars are supposed to tell us what day it is. But these new calendars feature something different every day, giving us something to celebrate, recognize or recall as if remembering birthdays and anniversaries isn’t hard enough.

But there is a week ending soon which recognizes the value and importance of something that keeps our communities growing and thriving - volunteering.

We are nearing the end of Global Volunteer Month in April and the end of National Volunteer Week on Monday. But in reality, volunteering is not limited to a day, week or even a month. It is continuous and is needed now more than ever in our hometowns.

Our communities simply could not exist if we had to rely on paying someone for everything that needs to be done. We could not afford to pay for all the amenities and activities we take for granted, but that happen because of volunteers. Volunteering should be the “normal” rather than the exception.

And for most of us, volunteering is likely something we do everyday, perhaps without even noting it or recognizing it.

Do you coach a youth sports team? Then you are likely volunteering your time each season.

Do you serve on a board or a committee? Then you probably are volunteering your time at every meeting and likely between meetings too.

Are you part of a service organization such as Rotary or the Optimists? Then, I guarantee you are volunteering on a regular basis since that is the purpose of the groups.

Are you married? Then I’m betting you are “voluntold” by your spouse to do things all the time, but that is still volunteering.

If volunteering is not already part of your life, then consider how it could be, especially since there is no age limit to when you can volunteer.

McCook High School is recognizing volunteer week by having all its students take part in service projects throughout the community today, Thursday, April 25. These are lessons the students will carry with them the rest of their lives and may prove to be just as valuable as the lessons they learn in the classroom.

For those who don’t know where to even start if they want to volunteer, there are many ways to get involved. To begin, take a moment to consider what you are interested in. You are more likely to enjoy and stick with something that you already like.

Do you like animals? Then consider walking dogs at the Humane Society or helping clean up at the McCook Dog Park.

Did you love a particular sport when you were growing up? Maybe you could coach a YMCA team even if you don’t have a kid participating. Do you simply have a desire to help others? Many of the local nonprofits can use help with projects throughout the year.

Once you have an idea of an area you would like to help, the next step is to get involved. A list of many local non-profits, which utilize volunteers, can be found on the McCook Community Foundation Fund website, mccookfoundation.org. Not to state the obvious, but there is a page devoted to volunteering in McCook and Southwest Nebraska, under “McCook Volunteers.”

If your organization needs volunteers but isn’t listed on the page, please reach out to be added.

Another great list of organizations can be found on the Southwest Nebraska Big Give website. While the site is devoted to raising funds each November, all of those same organizations can use volunteers throughout the year. Their contact information can be found on their individual pages.

National Volunteer Week may be coming to an end but take this as a sign to make an intentional effort to get involved and to volunteer in your hometown next week, the next month and for the next year.