While talking to Marguerite Cunningham and Marie-Louise Ternier-Gommers at the Community Gathering Place last week, they brought up a disturbing fact: people do not volunteer like they used to.
Back when I was unemployed out of university, I had time to volunteer for festivals and societies - fun things that took me away from a job that I hated.
Then I had part-time work and my time for volunteering was definitely cut back. That was the one good thing about a 30 hour works week: I still had time to donate to things I enjoyed and enjoyed taking part in but still had money to support myself.
Then I got full-time work and a job I enjoy. I admit, I haven’t had time for volunteering with groups in Humboldt yet.
Growing up, dad was a big volunteer. He passed that on to his kids as well. Our childhood being volun-told helped us grow up into adults who willingly volunteer.
Why is this disappearing?
I think I answered my own question with this sudden change in lifestyle.
When it comes to the amount people work nowadays, how many households have people working more than one job or a job that has a lot of overtime?
That does take away a desire to get out and donate time that is practically nonexistent when society has us working a whole lot more than 25-50 years ago.
Is their time suddenly more valuable when there is so little of it and most of it earns them money? To ask it bluntly, are people being more selfish with their time?
Are people just not seeing the worth in volunteering compared to spending time with kids, relaxing, or participating in recreation?
Parents are more often than not dragged into volunteering for school-based functions and groups rather than community-based groups and organizations. Not to say this isn’t also important, but how often do the two intersect? This takes the parent population away from the possible pool of volunteers.
When it comes to spending time with kids, how often is community-based volunteering not appropriate? The only time I can think about is when there’s alcohol involved.
Seeing what is available now for volunteering opportunities, how many community functions that have been going on for years are no longer able to function because of lack of volunteers? What about community sports teams that are unable to find coaches or officiants?
Have you thanked your local volunteers when you are at a sporting event or festival? God knows they can’t be thanked enough when the number of them are dwindling.
I look back on all the fun events that I took part in as a kid, like sports days and bazaars, and most of those memories include volunteers - the numerous parent coaches I had, the ones who made pies and food, the bingo callers and prizes donated from the community. Why is this aspect of small town life so hard to support now?
This is the definition of small town life and suddenly, I do not see it anymore.
Come back, volunteers.
