In our busy lives, nothing is more valuable than time. It follows that volunteers — people who choose to give their time to make this a better community – are very valuable indeed.
Less than one-third of adults give their time through volunteer work, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service. That makes it especially important that the efforts of those who do donate their time and energy are recognized during National Volunteer Week April 15-21.
People are often shocked to learn that a full 96 percent of the national American Red Cross work force is made up of volunteers. Locally, 1,400 of your neighbors volunteer through the Jersey Coast Chapter, all of them working to make each of us safer.
Our volunteers respond to local disasters, such as the fire in Sea Bright. Also, many volunteer to go across the state or across the nation if needed. They teach people lifesaving skills such as water safety, first aid and CPR, baby-sitting, disaster preparedness. They help local military families exchange emergency messages with their loved one and serve on our local board.
They help make sure that blood is there when it is needed by organizing blood drives, recruiting donors, and more. Volunteers answer the phone at our chapter, clean the mannequins we use in our CPR training, plan our fundraising events and much more.
We thank our volunteers, as well as the volunteers of so many other organizations here in Monmouth and Ocean counties. It is hard to imagine what kind of community we would have without you and the services you provide.
Bill Murray
CEO
American Red Cross
Jersey Coast Chapter
Tinton Falls