There are few better New Year’s resolutions than to become a volunteer in your community.
Why volunteer?
Last summer a boy, perhaps 12 years old, came to Slow Sundays in the Creek to try to make a little money doing magic tricks.
“Before long we had him up on the stage and, by the end of the summer, he was feeling like a real magician,” said Ed Lands, a Slow Sundays founder.
“Community makes you feel safe and comfortable. Creek Daze, Earth Day, Slow Sundays – all come out of that imagination which is community. I feel so fortunate to live here,” Lands said.
“Volunteering becomes a habit after awhile. It’s easy to think somebody else will do it, but if it’s not happening it’s your turn to get involved,” said Graham Walker, Roberts Creek songwriter and ukulele player extraordinaire.
“I feel something is lacking if I’m not doing something in the community. I love to see people coming together. It’s a creative urge, like writing songs. It’s a creative impulse to make something good for your community happen.”
“We chose to live here,” said John Gibbs, chair of the Roberts Creek Official Community Plan committee,” and volunteering was something I could do. It was a deep dive into community.”
“Volunteering is being connected to other people; it’s rich and vibrant,” said long time volunteer Sheila Wilson. “There are times in our lives when we have space and time to do what we love for free. Not everyone has that luxury; it comes from a space of privilege.”
“Volunteering is a way to create community. It provides people with an avenue for change,” said 32-year-old Jesse Clark, newly elected president of the Roberts Creek Legion.
“Volunteering is all about providing space for others and, for me, space for others my age. For several years we struggled to keep the executive together – young families were moving off Coast to find work -- but now it’s starting to turn around. Anyone 19 and older can join the Legion. We have a new events coordinator for live music and lots of DJ shows coming up. New members and volunteers are welcome,” Clark said.
“I volunteer because I love people and I love living here,” said Lesley Roberts, 2017 Creek Daze coordinator. “You’re too busy? But we’re all too busy.”
Materials and volunteers are needed to help build the gazebo and create the new community garden beside Roberts Creek elementary. Contact Sheila Wilson at the Community School, 604- 885-3481.
And don’t forget that Roberts Creek Hall is in desperate need of a new roof. Your donation will be gratefully accepted for the Raise the Roof campaign (see gofundme.com/robertscreekhall-roof).
To send news about the activities of your Roberts Creek group, please contact me at [email protected] before noon Mondays.
