This week, National Volunteer Week, gives those of us at Cascade Relief a chance to give extra thanks to our volunteers, who are the life blood of what we do to help others.
Signed into law in 1974, the event is an annual way to honor the people who give.
The theme for this year’s National Volunteer Week is Celebrate Service – and oh boy, at CRT we have so many volunteers to celebrate.
Volunteers have been key in so many ways to our mission.
From distribution of needed goods, to spending time running our Grange and manning phones and helping those in crisis, our volunteers do it all.
The dirty work, too. One of our most important volunteer contributions is helping with cleanup.
CRT initially started by helping to organize a volunteer cleanup in Otis, Oregon, which went so well – with an estimated $340,000+ of donated labor --that we felt the model could be replicated.
That has been an accomplishment as well.
For example, we moved that “template” to coordinate volunteers for cleanup in Blue River in the aftermath of the Holiday Farm fire.
But volunteers cover every aspect of what we do. In another instance, in the crucial area of donation deliveries, once we’ve picked up donations, our teams are dispatched to areas in need.
Our volunteer drivers are on the road for 20+ hours a week, making sure everything gets where it needs to go, a key link inn the supply chain of service.
Our volunteers tell us that they get as much as they give, which is inspiring for all.
We’ve found through our networking and efforts that volunteerism empowers individuals to take their passion and talents and turn it into meaningful change.
At CRT we also know that when each of us, in our own way, answers the call to make a difference, we make progress in solving our most persistent problems, and create stronger communities.
We are doubly thrilled that some of our employees started initially as volunteers, including our Disaster Case Manager, Melanie Brite, who says she has always been “that person” who volunteers and steps in when needed.
As someone who has gone through family fire disaster herself, imagine the empathy she brings to fellow survivors and those in crisis. These are skills that can’t be taught in school.
How can you help? If you would like to volunteer at CRT, you can sign up for alerts concerning deployments and other opportunities here:
https://www.cascaderelief.org/getinvolved
In the meantime, spare a thought and a prayer for those out there helping their neighbors and communities and “stepping in” when they can.
And at CRT we are grateful to have a special opportunity to celebrate our passionate volunteers!
