We Love Our Volunteers
Volunteer Lane Watson with a camper around the campfire.
Volunteers cooking up a storm at Camp Rise and Sign!
Last month, I had the pleasure to take my annual trip to Camp Marymount for Bridges’s annual Camp Rise and Sign where I was surrounded by 39 children (most of whom were Deaf or hard of hearing). I could go on and on about the smiles on their faces as they were able to experience what camp is all about. I could go on about how through sign language, they were able to fully participate in every aspect of camp. But there is another group of people I would like to dedicate this blog to: the volunteers.
It takes so much work to put on Camp Rise and Sign. Even though we are only “roughing it” for two days, it takes a strong, consistent, and dedicated team to make the machine run. Each year we have volunteers who are assisting us for the very first time as well as veterans that can tell you where to find anything and everything on the camp grounds. I observed the kindness and passion of these fine folks over the course of two activity-filled days. They slaved over stoves, jumped into frigid lake water with the kids, comforted when them when necessary, and even got pelted with eggs in the name of devotion to what we do.
We love our volunteers. We understand that this agency would be much weaker if we were minus their support. Often times, program development prevents me from seeing what is happening in the direct service arena. This camp experience gave me a first look, once again, at how hard our volunteers work. They sacrifice their time for us. And when that time includes sleep, it makes it all the more special.
Thank you volunteers!
- Eric