News

Volunteer Week

Published: 4/8/2009

National Volunteer Week 2009: "Celebrating People in Action"
The theme for National Volunteer Week, commemorated April 19-25, is "Celebrating People in Action." The theme captures the meaning behind this signature week – honoring the individuals who dedicate themselves to taking action and solving problems in their communities.
National Volunteer Week, April 19-25, 2009, is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities. It’s about demonstrating to the nation that by working together, we have the fortitude to meet our challenges and accomplish our goals. National Volunteer Week is about taking action and encouraging individuals and their respective communities to be at the center of social change—discovering and actively demonstrating their collective power to foster positive transformation. This is the perfect opportunity for you volunteer and to seize the moment and share with others that have that same passion.

Celebrating People in Action, presents an opportunity for individuals, families, nonprofit organizations and government entities alike to celebrate the ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things through service. National Volunteer Week embodies the energy and power volunteers evoke on a daily basis as they lead by example—not only encouraging the people they help, but motivating others to serve as well.

In OUR Community you have opportunities for the community to participate in projects as individuals or as a group. Engage volunteers, adopt neighborhoods and inspire others by example. Join a Volunteer Fire Department or the West Seneca Community Emergency Response Team WS CERT to name a few.

Established in 1974 by former President, Richard Nixon, National Volunteer Week has grown exponentially in scope each year since, drawing the support and endorsement of all subsequent U.S. presidents, governors, mayors and other respected elected officials. National Volunteer Week is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their community. It’s about demonstrating to the nation that by working together, in unison, we have the fortitude to meet our challenges and accomplish our goals. National Volunteer Week is about taking action, encouraging individuals and their respective communities to be at the center of social change—discovering and actively demonstrating their collective power to foster positive
transformation. National Volunteer Week is not only our moment in time to celebrate our volunteers, but to enable a nation to share ideas, practices, and stories, wherever they happen, and shaping a movement to re-imagine the notion of citizenship for the 21st century.

I myself, John Gullo joined Vigilant Fire Department 25 years ago and it has been a fulfilling adventure of assisting my community. There are people that I personally touched by helping them in their time of need, those memories and awesome feelings will never vanish. From pulling a victim out of a burning building to saving a life by performing CPR are just a few ways that I experienced. You too can experience those as well in different capabilities, be it joining a Volunteer Fire Department, the West Seneca Community Emergency Response Team, scouting programs or a church organization. Opportunities are there for everyone, become involved! Go to www.westeneca.net for links to some of these organizations.

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