Volunteers are Flowers

This week, Oakwood began honoring its volunteers.

Many volunteers - around 1,100 - served during 2014.  They gave 48,000 hours of their time.

Just measuring numbers doesn't speak to the impact volunteers make in our country and in our society.

Its difficult to imagine of what we take for granted in our lives without the influence and impact of volunteers.  Whether its a retirement community; a school; Habitat for Humanity; Girl Scouts; church; or the smallest non-profit... they exist through the sweat, blood, and tears of volunteers.

Like flowers, volunteers add joy and sunshine to those around them and to the world at large.  They might fade into the woodwork, but without them there is no beauty.

You eliminate the bright yellow daffodils from the photo and there is a nice green lawn.  It's nice.  But those flowers are living smiles that bring joy through their presence.

Thank you for volunteering.  Last week I missed writing about volunteers during National Volunteer Week, so here is one more pat on the back; an atta-boy (or girl); and round round of applause for the many ways you change our world and make it a better place.

If you aren't a volunteer yet - try it - you will have more fun than you expected as you light a corner of your world.