Making a Difference

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment

before starting to improve the world.”

~Anne Frank

     April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month.  It also encompasses National Volunteer Week, April 12 – 18, 2015.  President Richard Nixon established National Volunteer Week with an executive order in 1974, and every sitting U.S. president since Nixon has issued a proclamation during National Volunteer Week, urging Americans to give their time to community outreach organizations.

      I have always felt volunteering was important.  My mother worked full time, raised 5 children between the ages of 1 and 9 by herself when my father passed away and still found time to volunteer with a number of meaningful organizations.  When she passed away two years ago the most important thing to me was seeing so many people from those organizations at her memorial.  She made a difference! My brothers, sister and I still try to emulate her values and volunteer as much as we can.

The reason I bring this up is two-fold.  First, we have many volunteers here at Country Meadows who we are very grateful for.  Our Life Enrichment Directors, Linda and Holly have been challenged with recruiting more volunteers for a variety of activities.  Please let family and friends know about this opportunity.

I also want to say thank you to our residents who are participating in the SMART Reading Volunteer Program at Washington Elementary School in Woodburn.  Our residents are making a difference in children’s lives in our community.

Happy April to All of You!

Diane Matheny

Executive Director at Country Meadows Village

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