While some senior volunteers were sidelined for much of the year, many volunteers still came through to assist nonprofits despite the obstacles. To celebrate and honor volunteers during National Volunteer Appreciation Week, United Way of Martin County held an appreciation event for AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers at Indian Riverside Park. More than 60 volunteers enjoyed the beautiful weather, boxed lunches, music, camaraderie, and a sweet ice cream treat.
“The pandemic has reinforced the importance of volunteers and how vital their services are to keeping nonprofits functioning,” United Way of Martin County Director of AmeriCorps Seniors Kathleen Stacey said. “Now that more people are getting vaccinated we’re able to celebrate the volunteers that have hung in there with us as well as welcome back volunteers who we haven’t seen in a while.”
Nonprofits’ volunteer needs have changed since the onset of the pandemic. Beyond the ongoing need for daily support to maintain the safety net of services, volunteers were also called into action to assist the Florida Department of Health in Martin County with the vaccine clinics.
United Way of Martin County helped recruit and coordinate placement for over 50 medical and nonmedical volunteers who devoted nearly 400 hours of service at vaccine clinics throughout the county. One of their volunteers, United Way of Martin County board member and retired nurse Jane Cebelak, spoke at the volunteer appreciation event about the many days, nights and weekends she dedicated at volunteer clinics throughout the county. “Giving my time to assist with vaccination clinics in my hometown is a great way to act locally and think globally as it is important to our nation’s overall efforts to recover from the pandemic,” Cebelak said.
AmeriCorps Seniors engages older adults in volunteer service. It is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency for volunteering and is administered locally by United Way of Martin County. For more information, visit www.UnitedWayMartin.org.
About United Way of Martin County
United Way of Martin County's mission is to lift the community and change lives together through the collective power of advancing the common good. Since 1972, the United Way has been working to create long-term social change and provide support to Martin County residents by investing in programs that strive to: enhance healthy living, improve education, and support financial stability. For more information about United Way of Martin County visit www.unitedwaymartin.org.