Town Honors Volunteers 4/29/08

They coach youth sports teams, tutor kids after school, beautify our parks, assist with recreation programs and serve on advisory boards.

Holly Springs' 460-plus citizen volunteers serve the Town in numerous ways.

"We could not function without our volunteers," Town Manager Carl Dean said, noting that volunteers are more valuable than ever considering how many other demands they have on their time.

To show its appreciation, the Town is honoring its volunteers with certificates of appreciation and recognition as part of National Volunteer Week.

National Volunteer Week was created in 1974 when President Richard Nixon signed an executive order establishing an annual celebration of volunteering. The purpose is to inspire, recognize and encourage people to become involved in their community.

In Holly Springs, citizen advisory boards assist the Town Council and Town staff, providing community perspective and additional expertise.

The total number of Town volunteers is more than double the Town government workforce. The Parks and Recreation Department is the main beneficiary.

"As far as our youth athletics are concerned, it would be almost impossible to have the program without volunteers," said Len Bradley, Parks and Recreation director.

In addition to nearly 300 coaches, there are volunteers for landscaping, maintenance and construction at Bass Lake Park and productions at Holly Springs Cultural Center.

On a recent Thursday, 45 volunteers from the pharmaceutical firm Novartis spent a full day assisting the Parks and Recreation Department. They planted trees at Jones Park and created a mile-long nature trail through a new portion of Bass Lake Park.

At Veterans Park, the Novartis volunteers stained a boardwalk that had been built by another group of community volunteers headed by Pete Morrison.

Scott Barnard, manager of Bass Lake Park, said the volunteers were a huge help.

"It probably would have been late summer before these things could be completed with all staff labor," he said.

Materials to build the boardwalk and pave the greenway at Jones and Veterans parks were paid for through a three-year, $120,000 grant from the John Rex Foundation.

At Hunt Community Center, program volunteers include grandmothers who assist with the after-school and trackout programs.

"They bring a different perspective," Bradley said, noting that most Parks and Recreation Department staff members are relatively young.

The Parks and Recreation Department is always seeking volunteers.

"We have some nice projects they can help us with," Bradley said.

The community certainly benefits from the Town's many volunteers. For those who give their time, volunteering provides opportunities to do something different, meet new people, and perhaps enjoy the outdoors.

"I think it's a fun thing for them to do," Bradley said.

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Town of Holly Springs - PO Box 8 - 128 South Main Street - Holly Springs, NC 27540 - (919) 552-6221 - Holly.Springs@hollyspringsnc.us