Volunteers are seldom seen and rarely heard from, but they make an enormous difference for many local non-profit organizations.

Any amount of time someone donates is helpful. Just an hour a week doing a simple task might help to create possibilities. It might lead to accomplishments that wouldn’t happen otherwise.

April is a time in which we recognize all volunteers for their contributions. Some organizations plan meals or recognition programs to thank everyone for serving.

There are many factors that can keep people from donating their time. Some are just very busy with work and family.

In the mid 20th century most married women were homemakers. It often led to enough free time on weekday mornings or afternoons to volunteer, either at their children’s school or with organizations in the community.

A man’s volunteer time often involved going to meetings in the evening when the wives got the children ready for bed. It was traditional. For many couples it was a system that worked well.

In more recent times both parents usually work full-time jobs. They divide cooking, housekeeping, finances, car maintenance and other tasks that demand time. They also have to make time for activities that involve kids, and then try to have some hours left over just to spend informal quality time as a family.

It takes extra effort to volunteer. It’s easy to put off, to say that volunteering is something they’ll do in the future when the kids are grown or when they retire.

Meanwhile many organizations have a need for more volunteers. Even though it’s true in both small towns and large cities, the need is sometimes more obvious in small towns.

Leaders of organizations often try to think of people they’d like to have as volunteers. They’ll sometimes make personal appeals even though asking for time is often harder than asking for money. It’s often hard to say no. Unless there’s a prior commitment for a specific time, there’s a desire to help out.

It leads to personal rewards. There’s a sense doing one’s duty by helping and not expecting any money for it. We’re fortunate that we’re Americans. The more we remember that, the more we start to think that we should be willing to give back.

There’s always a limit. Realistically people who work full time and have family commitments can’t volunteer 10 hours a week. It might be hard to even volunteer for five hours.

It helps if volunteers can be matched with the right duties, if they can do something they’re good at. It’s equally useful if they have flexibility and can fit volunteer projects into their schedules.

When I worked at the Lyon County Museum from 2013 until 2015 one of my duties was to coordinate volunteers. It taught me firsthand that volunteers are a valuable commodity.

Every volunteer has talent. They all have ways that they can make valuable contributions. The key is to make their volunteer time enjoyable, to make it so they feel it’s time well spent.

As I’ve cut back on my working hours I’ve had good opportunities to volunteer. After my dad died of complications from Parkinson’s Disease in 2019, I joined Sunrise Rotary, did volunteer work for the Marshall Area Fine Arts Council and served on the Marshall City Planning Commission.

I cut back in 2023 and 2024 to help care for my mom who was facing dementia. I continued to serve on the Planning Commission and will complete my second three-year term next month.

Since mom died last September I’ve become active as a volunteer at Boulder Estates, where I moved in August. I lead a Saturday morning music program called Records and Reflections. I enjoy talking about an album, playing it for an audience and then having everyone share memories that relate to the music.

One of the benefits is that we utilize the albums I donated to Boulder Estates along with an antique record case. It’s great to see my neighbors enjoy the albums, most of which belonged to my parents.

I also sing in the Boulder choir. I’ve been part of the fall talent show and the December nativity scene. Next week I’ll give Earth Day and Arbor Day presentations using materials from my days at Soil and Water offices from 2007 to 2010.

Everyone can have similar avenues for volunteering. It might be rewarding for parents to help their kids and other kids. It might allow someone to care for people who have the same illness that a parent or close relative had.

There are many possibilities. A small gift of time and effort can lead to satisfaction, friendships and community involvement.