LOVELOCK - Not many people know that April is National Volunteer Month. This special month is set aside to celebrate the millions of volunteers who help throughout the nation.
Pershing County will recognize its many volunteers with a "Dessert Social" on April 23. County commissioners are expected to make a proclamation at their April 3 meeting, declaring April 21-27 as National Volunteer Week in Pershing County.
Bonnie Stockman, Pershing County volunteer program coordinator, praised county volunteers.
"We have some very hard-working volunteers. I am so proud of them," Stockman said.
Stockman coordinates volunteers for the Pershing County Senior Center, Marzen House Museum, Lovelock Community Food Bank, Pershing General Hospital, Pershing County Library and the Pershing County Cemetery. She said she is always in need of more volunteers. To talk to Stockman about volunteer opportunities, contact her at 273-2041.
"Some volunteers can only work a few hours a month and some are seasonal volunteers; we are always looking for community-minded folks to help out," Stockman said.
The benefits of volunteerism are numerous.
"Volunteerism is rewarding. It helps keep people active and it saves taxpayers money," Pershing County Commissioner Administrative Assistant Karen Wesner said. "There would be a significant void if not for our volunteers."
Take, for instance, the county volunteer fire departments. Pershing County operates four volunteer fire departments in Lovelock, Rye Patch, Imlay and Grass Valley.
Lovelock Fire Chief Chuck Rasco said there are openings on all departments.
"The county could not afford to provide paid fire departments to each of our communities. This is a way to help your neighbors. For me, it means giving back to my community," Rasco said.
Get more information about volunteering for any of these community fire departments by calling 273-2423.
Not everyone finds their volunteer calling in organized groups. Some just see a need and fill it. A prime example of this is Lovelock resident Dan O'Conner, who recently retired.
"I've always been active and when I retired I wondered what I would do," O'Conner said.
After looking around the community to see where he could fit in he decided on a volunteer taxi service.
"I thought it would be a good service for the community," he said.
O'Conner placed an ad in the Lovelock Review-Miner and has been giving rides to people who call him - even getting up in the late evening and early morning hours to give rides to local tavern patrons.
"I don't mind getting woken up that much. It's better than them drinking and driving," he said.
Contact O'Conner at (775) 338-9860 to get a free ride in Lovelock.
According to a study by Fischer and Schaffer, found on the University of Missouri-Kansas City website, www.cas.umkc.edu/casww/, some of the benefits volunteers experience are, self satisfaction, relaxation and socialization. The study comments that for some, volunteerism can also lead to career opportunities.
According to the study, 41 percent of volunteers are over the age of 60, but the majority of volunteers are represented by women in their 30s and 40s.
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