Community members gather to celebrate service in Mineral County
<p>Volunteers and those in attendance to recognize their efforts gathered on the Mineral County Courthouse lawn last week.</p>
MINERAL COUNTY – April is Volunteer Appreciation Month and to celebrate the occasion and to honor those that selflessly give away their time and energy in Mineral County to help those less fortunate or in need, approximately 30 people gathered in Superior on the courthouse lawn last week.
Some of them volunteers and others in attendance to celebrate the occasion with them, all were there to listen to two proclamations. One was delivered by Superior Mayor Roni Phillips and the other by Mineral County Commissioner Duane Simons both declaring a day to celebrate those who volunteer across the county.
After the declarations were made on the steps of the courthouse, the event ended with the mayor and Mineral County Commissioner Laurie Johnston serving up ice cream for those in attendance. One such volunteer, Mary Jo Berry of Superior, said the event was a way to recognize those in Mineral County who routinely put the needs of other people before their own.
“We want to honor all the volunteers who work for the various groups in Mineral County,” Berry said. “Mineral County has over 400 volunteers who work for the various groups. It’s just a way to recognize the volunteers. I saw people here who volunteer on the fair board or the library board. We have the food bank and Women in Timber. Some members of the volunteer fire department are here.”
Berry said also represented at the event were members of Retired Senior Volunteers Program (RSVP) were also present. She said it was the first time Mineral County had participated in what is, according to the website, one of the largest volunteer networks in the country for people 55 and over.
RSVP programs can include, but are not limited to, renovating homes, teaching English to immigrants, assisting natural disaster victims, tutoring disadvantaged or disabled youth or organizing neighborhood watch groups.
RSVP volunteers can choose where, what and how often they serve their respective communities from a few hours a week to up to 40 hours a week.
Volunteers receive training before their assignments and do not receive monetary benefits. Berry also said the oldest volunteer in the county was 82 years old.