FREEPORT — In honor of more than 400 volunteers in town, a flag will be flown at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., during National Volunteer Appreciation Week, April 18-24.
Deb Daggett, the volunteer coordinator for Freeport Community Services, said this is one way volunteers can be honored for their generosity.
She said the volunteers work at the Food Pantry and the Thrift Shop at the Freeport Community Center and participate in numerous programs for children, the elderly, housebound, sick and lonely.
“Our volunteers are amazing,” Daggett said. “Every year we try to find something meaningful to give to the volunteers as a way to show our appreciation. We want them to know how much they mean to us and to show them, more than anything else in the world, that we wouldn’t exist without them.”
Volunteers help with the sale of clothes and donations at the Thrift Shop.
At the Food Pantry they run fundraisers, help people pick out food, bake casseroles, pick up food donations, deliver food to the home-bound and write grants for funding.
They provide rides to medial appointments and participate in the friendly visitor and caring callers program. During the holidays, volunteers buy gifts and collect food for needy families. The Read to Succeed program is run by volunteers who visit day-care centers and read to children.
“Our volunteers do everything from gardening to photography,” Daggett said. “Our motto is neighbors helping neighbors, and that is exactly what they do. They do it because that is the type of people they are, generous and good.”
In addition to the volunteers that give of their time, Daggett said she was equally impressed with the Employee Share program that enables employees of local businesses to volunteer once a month with the Community Center.
“This is my fourth year as volunteer coordinator and each year more people come forward to give,” she said. “Having the flag flown in our nation’s capitol in honor of the more than 400 volunteers is a way for us to say thank you and acknowledge their generosity.”
The flag will be returned to the Community Center after it is flown, and Daggett said it will be displayed as a memento.
“We will always have the flag displayed as a reminder of the people who give so much to the community,” she said.
Amy Anderson can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 110 or aanderson@theforecaster.net
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