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In The News

Volunteers help county become a better place

Source: Herald and News

By Pat Bushey

April 20, 2017

Wealth takes many forms. It’s not just about money, but also other things that improve the value of community life no matter what the economy is doing.

In the Klamath Basin it can be the beauty of its landscape, the abundance of its wildlife, the generosity of its people and many other things. It’s that “generosity” facet that will be saluted next week — and deserves to be — when the Klamath County Volunteer of the year is named.

What kind of place would Klamath County be without volunteers? Without Meals on Wheels drivers delivering meals to housebound seniors? Without counselors helping those overwhelmed by personal problems and seeing suicide as the only way out? Without help for those in temporary need of a place to stay and food to eat?

That is just a tiny sample of roles volunteers play throughout the county.

United Way Executive Director LeRoy Cabral said in a March 19 commentary in the Herald and News celebrating National Volunteer Week that according to a Corporation for National and Community Service-sponsored survey in 2015 approximately 62.6 million Americans over the age of 16 volunteered an average of 52 hours each year. “That’s 3.255 billion volunteer hours valued at approximately $23.56 per hour.”

Whoever is picked as the county’s Volunteer of the Year won’t be representing just one person when called to come forward for the award, but all volunteers — anyone who gives up time to help make life better for someone else. There are lots of them.

The annual celebration will be Tuesday at the Senior Citizens Center. 20145 Arthur St.. but the deadline to get tickets, $10 apiece, is tomorrow. For tickets, contact the United Way at 541-882-5558.