While watching the news coverage in anticipation of the start of the Winter Olympics, I suddenly realized how many volunteers it must take to put on an event of that magnitude. Being in the “volunteer business,” I don’t know why that was the first time I’d thought of that, but the realization just kind of washed over me at that moment.  I thought about how valuable the volunteers are that help put on our events such as Make a Difference Day,Heart & Hands, and The Human Race and the work it takes to coordinate a large volunteer effort to make sure all volunteers have meaningful work to do and are recognized for their efforts. And, right now we are mobilizing our own army of volunteers for Project Homeless Connect, an event that helps people experiencing homelessness receive needed services to take their first steps out of the cycle of homelessness.

As usual, because Bellingham is a city of givers, we have had a huge response to our pleas for volunteers. Many of those who have come to the information sessions are people who volunteered at last year’s event. Amazingly, though, we still need volunteers who are willing to do the “grunt” work that is pretty much behind the scenes. Those volunteer positions include parking attendants, set up, break down, and those willing to stand in the middle of the street to see that guests and their helpers cross the street safely.

I know there are people out there who would rather do something without a lot of notoriety, who can know within themselves that what they are doing is essential to the success of the whole. If you are one of those people, you can sign up at www.1800volunteer.org or call Rebecca or Randi at 360-734-3055. All of us who participate in this event in any capacity can be proud that we are partners in a national movement to end homelessness in America.