National Volunteer Week is around the corner

National Volunteer Week was established in 1974.

This year National Volunteer Week is April 20-26th. The theme this year is “Volunteers Make Waves.”

Volunteer Week is to acknowledge the kindness, courage and strength of people who volunteer their time and efforts without expecting anything in return. As of April 2024 each volunteer has a value of $33.49 per hour. No one is more cherished in this world than someone who lightens the burdens of another.

What is an impressive number of volunteer hours?  The answer is between 50 and 200 hours.  Among age groups the highest rates of volunteering were those between 65 years and older.  With 7.8 percent women and 6.4 percent men volunteering.  Every day can be a volunteer day.

Upcoming dates for volunteering are Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July and let’s not forget our Gold Star Mothers.

Record all your volunteer hours. You will be surprised how fast they accumulate. The Red “V,” which has become an international symbol for volunteering, was commissioned by Margaret Bell, former president of Volunteering Australia.