In 2017, 264 volunteers contributed 2,637 hours to the Cultural Services Department.
This includes the Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery, Original Humboldt, the Humboldt Water Tower, and Humboldt Public Art.
This extensive work was celebrated with the Volunteer Appreciation Tea at the Humboldt and District Museum on April 25.
Museum Director Jennifer Fitzpatrick says this work is vital to the community.
“We’re a small staff so we know we need everyone to pull off most of what we do.”
From baking and cooking to carpentry, there are so many ways in which people volunteer to preserve Humboldt’s history.
“If there’s a volunteer that wants to do something, there are so many ways. And we really try to focus the areas that they’re interested in.”
It is heartwarming to see the vast ways that people try to help, says Fitzpatrick.
One of the many volunteers that lent a hand for 2017 was Carol Oleksyn. She spent many years on the Humboldt and District Museum board, both as board chairperson and vice-chairperson at different points of time. Oleksyn was recognized for her many years of service but will be moving to the Friends of the Museum and Gallery board.
History and culture are a special interest for Oleksyn and retirement made volunteering easy to take part in.
She started working as a volunteer for the board back when the museum was the only cultural institution in Humboldt, she says.
Throughout all her time as a volunteer, she is most proud to be a part of the revitalization of the Original Humboldt site and the Humboldt and District Gallery.
“The only way I was really involved was in the decision to go for it...I’m most proud of (that).”
The museum is also celebrating the fact that more volunteers are coming to lend their support. Volunteer hours in 2017 is up 14 per cent from 2016, says Fitzpatrick.
Of course, more are always appreciated and anyone can sign up to volunteer by visiting the Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery.
Volunteers will be matched up with tasks that fit their interests, says Fitzpatrick.
“We have many ways for you to spend your time. It really depends on what people are interested in helping out with.”
