Letter to the Editor

Your view: Thank a volunteer

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Have you ever wished that you could say thank you to someone who has performed a service to our community? We have that opportunity during National Volunteer Week, which takes place April 15-21 this year.

National Volunteer Week is sponsored by Target and the Points of Light Foundation and Volunteer Center National Network, a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C.

The purpose of National Volunteer Week is to recognize outstanding volunteers around the country. Thousands of volunteer recognition events conducted by Volunteer Centers, nonprofit organizations and corporations will take place during the week to recognize the contributions of volunteers to our communities.

Volunteers are one of our country's most important assets. More than 61 million people volunteered through or for an organization at least once between September 2005 and September 2006, according to a recent survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That represents more than a quarter of the entire U.S. population.

National Volunteer Week began in 1974 when President Nixon signed an executive order establishing the week as an annual celebration of volunteering. Since then, every U.S. president has signed a proclamation promoting National Volunteer Week. Governors, mayors and other elected officials also make public statements and sign proclamations in support of National Volunteer Week.

The VNA Southeast MO would like to say thank you to our many Hospice Volunteers and Senior Companion Volunteers for your dedication and service.

So during the week of April 15-21, let's all take a moment to recognize the volunteers who make our community a better place.

If you would like to be a volunteer, contact Linda Biggs, Hospice Volunteer, Cord. at 1-800-286-5892, ext. 1218 or Vicki Rhew, Senior Companion Director at ext. 1127. You can also register as a volunteer online at www.1-800-

Volunteer.org.

Linda Biggs

Hospice Volunteer Coordinator

Vicki Rhew

Senior Companion Director