Around the world, usually in the spring, countries celebrate National Volunteer Week (NVW), thanking those who volunteer and encouraging others to do so as well in community service projects, donating blood, beach and roadside cleanups, etc.
This year’s NVW in the United States was April 19 to 25. The “stay at home” and quarantine policies resulting from COVID-19 no doubt limited the number of people who could participate in the associated activities of NVW there and worldwide.
But at the same time, the pandemic highlighted the importance of volunteers. Without volunteers, little in our respective communities — neighborhoods, schools, organizations and larger society — would function, particularly as government services get further and further restricted due to budget cuts and other priorities.