Volunteers keep Jasper rolling

Volunteers are what keeps the wheels turning in innumerable programs throughout the cities and counties in East Texas.

Nationally, a Gallup pole says 44 percent of Americans volunteer, almost 84 million people, who provide services to their communities estimated at a value of $239 million.

Kick a rock in Jasper and you will turn up dozens of volunteers- you've been reading about them in all year in The Jasper Newsboy.

At the Jasper Historic Commission, it's a diehard group of volunteers who keep all the county archives in order.

Every fire department in Jasper County is all volunteers.

All the Keep Jasper Beautiful folks who worked on The Great American Trash Off last weekend were volunteers. Some of those volunteers work all year long on recycling efforts and education.

On April 27, a hardy bunch of night owls will spend Friday night on the courthouse square, volunteering for many different duties at the Relay for Life that raises funds and awareness for cancer.

Lakes Area Hospice wants to recognize the volunteers who provide care and comfort to people in the final days of their lives. Some go out to the homes and help the families, others help out at the office on Ethel Street or the Thrift Store on Water Street.

Teachers and school staff members volunteer hours, efforts and sometimes cash out of their own pockets for things like the Talent Show and Project Graduation.

Volunteers from the Lions Club are already working hard on the annual rodeo. 4-H and FFA volunteers just completed a successful livestock show.

Speaking of clubs and churches and civic events of every description, what do you think would happen if no one volunteered?

April 15-21 is National Volunteer Week. If you were to try to hug all the volunteers in Jasper, your arms would fall off.

The only meaningful way to thank a volunteer is to pay it forward: step up and volunteer for something.