April is National Volunteer Appreciation month. The Sno-Valley Senior Center is very dependent on our volunteers in every aspect. 2020 was an odd year because of Covid-19. We had to reduce our number of volunteers so we wouldn’t put people at risk. Yet, people continued to volunteer in powerful ways. I want to salute all of you who made calls to neighbors and friends to see how they are doing, made or sent cards to cheer someone’s day and helped to make us each feel a little less lonely. You are my heroes.
“Volunteering is at the very core of being a human. No one has made it through life without someone else’s help.” – Heather French Henry. That is so true!
This year our volunteer board of directors helped us not only survive the pandemic but thrive as they pivoted to on-line meetings. They took on an ambitious goal to start the process to build low-income senior housing. They gave of time and funds in numerous ways.
Our fundraising committees worked to find ways to still raise funds for our programs even though we could not gather in person. The Plant Sale committee still sold hanging baskets last year and added flower bouquets to the mix so that we could still bring color and joy to our community! (Look for us to return to an in-person sale this year on April 30 & May 1!)
The auction volunteers helped us do our first ever on-line auction! It was very successful due to the hard work of many volunteers! They had imagination to see a new way! So the roaring 20s could roar again! People volunteered items for the auction – a cruise on the lake, a guest house, fishing lessons… without this generosity of time and items we wouldn’t have succeeded.
As summer came, we gradually added volunteers to help in the kitchen, reception and the thrift store. We had volunteers to help with mailings. But always we were careful so volunteers could keep social distance and wear a mask. So thank you to those brave souls who came to assist.
Most volunteering was behind the scenes – helping a neighbor get groceries or get a vaccine. Volunteers caring made life easier. So thank you to all of you! Sno-Valley Senior Center members and attendees are some of the most caring, beautiful people I know. So celebrate the fact that you make a difference whether you do formal volunteering or not. Pat yourself on the back!
I miss you and hope we will be able to provide some in-person programming this summer. We will do a very gradual ramp up so keep watching the newsletter for updates. Until we meet again in-person, take care and stay well. See you soon!
Contact me anytime with concerns or questions.
Lisa Yeager, Director Lisay@soundgenerations.org 425-333-415