Editorial: Let’s give a round of applause for the volunteer

Charles City is having a recognition ceremony for something we all should do every once in a while: volunteer.

The desire to volunteer had greatly dwindled. In a world revolved around the all mighty dollar bill, people doing a task or a favor and not expecting anything in return seems absurd. But sometimes the little recognition of a thank you does wonders and can outweigh a couple of dollars.

Volunteering doesn’t take a lot of effort nor a formal application. While there are some groups (such as firefighters) that are more organized, volunteering can be simple as walking down the road and picking up trash. You’re not forced to do it, bribed, or threatened; instead, you’re giving back a little time to provide a positive atmosphere.

From my experiences, most of the volunteers I have interacted with include those who take the mantle of coaching for a recreation program or working the concession stand to raise money for an organization. But volunteering doesn’t stop there. Volunteers come in a variety of forms that include manning an informational booth at a fair, separating tickets, or preparing meals to give to others.

Volunteers often dedicated time or their own money to make a situation more pleasurable. It may not take a lot, but the little a person does to make his or her surroundings better will have that type of effect. Think of it as a ripple in a pond; it starts in the middle, but it spreads further and further away, touching everything in its path.

One thing is true about volunteers; they don’t do it for the glory or the recognition. Deep down, volunteers do it because they want to make a difference. Anybody can complete a task for a dollar amount, but not many are willing to set aside the time of day. Volunteers are special people with hearts that can’t be measured by beats.

So, the next time you see a person doing something out of the goodness of their heart, offer up a simple “thank you.” Those two words work wonders and may inspire the person saying them to actually complete a task of similar nature in the future.