Editorial
Do we really realize how much we depend on volunteers

It was a fitting occasion last Tuesday night as King Township held its annual evening to thank the many volunteers in the community.

The event saw a worthy recipient, Nancy Bodi, being named King Township's Citizen of the Year, while more than 20 others were singled out for special recognition.

Not to take anything away form the people who were recognized, but the point was made a couple of times over the course of the evening that there were a lot more people deserving of acknowledgement who weren't even in the room.

Do the ordinary people, who live in King and who might even read this newspaper, realize that?

There was mention of the volunteer firefighters who operate out of the three stations in King. How many of you realize that if your house ever catches fire, it could well be a volunteer who saves your life, or the lives of your children?

There were many volunteers out along the sides of roads in King Saturday picking up litter, but a lot of you weren't there. How many of you stop and occasionally pick up litter you find in your travels? How many of you contribute to the problem?

Hospice King-Aurora will be holding its annual general meeting later this month. This organization, basically a volunteer effort, helps people and their families cope with the realities of death and dying. How many of us are likely to need the services of such volunteers some day?

Do you have kids? Do they take part in some kind of organized sport? Who but a volunteer takes on the coaching duties?

Are your kids part of the Scouting or Guiding movements? Who but volunteers lead them?

How many volunteers is it going to take to run the upcoming Victoria Day celebrations in Nobleton, or Schomberg Fair later this month?

Don't tell your kids this, but it was volunteers and not the Easter Bunny who scattered some 20,000 Easter eggs in Pottageville Park one chilly Saturday morning last month.

True, these people who volunteer their time get a lot of satisfaction and enjoyment from it. You can bet the people who scattered those eggs were grinning as they envisioned a couple of hundred skids stampeding into the park to pick them all up.

A lot of them have a good time doing what they do. But a little recognition never hurts. And a little more volunteer help certainly wouldn't be out of line either.

Er . . . Folks, we believe the ball is in your court.