Guest Column: Many needs await in community

“Celebrating People in Action” is the theme for the 2010 National Volunteer Week to be celebrated April 18-25.

The first national volunteer week was started by President Richard Nixon in 1974. Every president since has also recognized this week. It is a week to “inspire, recognize, and encourage” community members to get involved.

Libby High School is fortunate to have a group of volunteers who constantly step forward to make our events possible. Parents, community members, staff and students always answer the call when we need people to help. If you have not yet volunteered your time or skills, there are still many opportunities available.

Here is your personal invitation. Each of our schools has a need for your talents. It might be reading to students at the elementary school or helping a middle-school student with math problems. At the high school they will be hosting the divisional track meet and will need people to score, judge, rake and guide competitors to events.

You could volunteer for something as simple as teaching a high-school student how to succeed in a job interview or as complicated as teaching a younger student how to write in cursive. If you have the time and energy, we need you.

Kids today do not understand the concept of “community service.” I have seen firsthand, kids whose scholarship applications are not competitive since they have never volunteered for anything. Most youth today think that “community service” is something you do when you are sentenced by the judge. They frequently do not feel an obligation to give back to the community.

Kids need to see and talk to people who are active in the community; they need someone to mentor them, and show them the personal rewards that can be gained from such service. Young people are the future of our country and we need to take the time now to educate and nurture them so that when we are no longer able to volunteer, someone will be stepping up to fill our shoes.

Here at Libby High School, we are recognizing some of our volunteers at a dessert on Monday, April 26 at 7 p.m., at the high school. Volunteers who helped at events during the winter session will be treated to homemade desserts and given a time to socialize with each other without lifting a finger.

It is our hope that this small token of appreciation will encourage these volunteers to keep returning to other events.

So, as this week approaches, do an inventory of the talents you have. There are many needs in our community waiting for someone like you. Pick up the phone and give someone the opportunity to benefit from your experiences. Libby High School has a place for you.

Please call the LHS Family Center at 293-8802, ext. 247.

(Kathleen Sheffield of the LHS Family Center can be reached at 293-8802, ext. 247).