Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless. – Sherry Anderson
This month is Global Volunteer Month and next week is National Volunteer Week. There is no better time to recognize and celebrate all that our awesome volunteers do and have done here at St. Anthony’s. To that end, our staff members shared some of their thoughts about our priceless volunteers.
“Our volunteers are the backbone of St. Anthony’s,” Jackie K said. “Without their dedicated service, St. Anthony’s most likely would not exist. Our volunteers never cease to amaze me with their selfless giving, and they often inspire me to do more. They remind me of why I am here!”
Sr. Barb expressed her gratitude using a quote from St. Mother Theresa: “Helping hands are better than praying lips.” She continued by saying, “Our volunteers here at St. Anthony’s not only bring their helping hands but also pray for those who come through our doors. Thank you all for your helping hands and praying lips. Blessings!”
Kim said, “I consider our Volunteers as a part of my Family. I have learned so much from them, not just kitchen stuff, but life lessons. Our volunteers’ willingness to to help us out speaks to both their love and commitment to St Anthony’s, and also the quality of their character. St. Anthony’s is a better place because you volunteer, and I thank you for it.”
“With everyone’s busy lives, it always seems extra special that people will find time to volunteer at St. Anthony’s,” Jackie H. added.
Just to give you an idea of their contributions, last year volunteers reported 5,470 hours of service to St. Anthony’s. That is the equivalent of 2.5 full time employees, contributing an average of 105 hours per week. Statistically, the value of their contribution is almost $175,000, but their value to us is priceless.
As amazing as all that is, it is only part of the picture, though, because not all our volunteers report their hours. Some of our retreat presenters put in many hours of time to prepare for the weekend and offer their time on retreat weekends as their gift to St. Anthony’s. Also, those wonderful reflections we send out each week are written by volunteers, most of whom do not report their time for that ministry.
Adele likes this quote from Heather French Henry: “Volunteering is at the very core of being a human. No one has made it through life without someone else’s help.” She believes that is true of St. Anthony’s volunteers as well. “From housekeeping to office work, maintenance and upkeep, our grounds and gardens – 40 acres of lawn, prairie plants and flowers, woods and trails – there is a LOT to do and our volunteers do it. Thank you! Every job helps us.”
Jain echoed her appreciation for the help of volunteers. She acknowledged she and Jackie H. could never do all that is needed each week to prepare for and clean up after all our guests. Adele added, ”We have had SO many volunteers over the years through today who do so much in our building – well over 100 rooms, many bathrooms and hallways, and this does not include the basement and Solanus Center!”
Some of our volunteers have been coming to help for years. They have, in a sense, formed a community within our community. That is certainly true of the Lord’s Ladies, who began coming every Monday back in the 70’s to help clean rooms after the weekend retreats. It is also true of the Kitchen Crew who would come like clockwork every Thursday to prep for the coming weekend. Likewise, our Beautification Team gathers several times a year to plant and tend our beautiful flower gardens.
While some were friends and came to volunteer together, Jain said that others came and made friends for life with staff and with other volunteers. “Volunteer Week became an opportunity for those folks to gather and spend time with the volunteers they met the year before. They would use some of their vacation time so they could come to St. Anthony’s for their yearly get-together.”
Jackie H. enjoys connecting with volunteers she hasn’t seen for a while, and meeting new ones who have so many questions about this big beautiful place. It is also fun to ask them questions about their lives. “I am never going to play high school football or raise ten kids on a farm like they did, which makes their lives and stories so interesting to me,” she said.
Visitors to St. Anthony’s may see the results of all the love and hard work of our volunteers, but few see the smiling faces that we do when they are here working. So over the next week, we will share pictures of some of those priceless volunteers, both present and from years past, on our FaceBook page. Then next Friday, we will offer another tribute to our volunteers written by a guest Chronicler.
For the love and generosity of all our priceless volunteers, past, present and future, we say Deo Gratias!