Kitsap County Volunteer Appreciation Week April 18-24, 2021

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Kitsap County Washington

Kitsap County News

Thank you, Kitsap County volunteers!

April 19, 2021

volunteer appreciation week

Celebrating Kitsap County volunteers

Kitsap County Commissioners proclaimed April 18-24, 2021 as Kitsap County Volunteer Appreciation Week, in recognition of the more than 4,000 volunteers who annually contribute their time, talent, and expertise to county government. Kitsap County also joins  the country in observing National Volunteer Week. View the Commissioners’ proclamation here. Gov. Jay Inslee also proclaimed this week as Volunteer Appreciation Week.

We celebrate and honor the incredible volunteers who so positively affect the health, safety and well-being of our communities. They are a key link in communicating and distributing information and resources. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteers are more vital and their impact greater than ever. We are humbled by their selfless contributions - they are critical, invaluable partners.

When COVID-19 hit the county, many Kitsap County volunteer programs had to pause. But not for long. When calls went out for volunteers to help in the response to the pandemic, hundreds of people put their hands up and offered to assist. They support COVID-19 test sites, community vaccine clinics, the staging warehouse where personal protection equipment is distributed, call centers, quarantine and isolation centers and opened severe weather shelters last winter.

Dedicated volunteers remain active in many county programs. Among these are the over 200 volunteers serving on our county advisory groups. They pivoted meetings to online platforms and continue serving as conduits to share important information about projects and programs, shape policy and make funding recommendations.

Our Parks Department that relies on hundreds of stewards to maintain county parks created a COVID-19 safety program so volunteers could get back into our parks and keep them safe and accessible. Natural resources docents, 4-H leaders and master gardeners of our Washington State University Kitsap Extension office also adjusted their practices and continued their programs and outreach.

In cases where some of our volunteer programs had to go on hiatus, people sought out other ways to contribute their time: with local food banks and school districts, sewing masks, distributing safety supplies and raising funds to support local businesses and non-profit organizations.

We have so much gratitude for the outpouring of generosity and caring from the thousands of dedicated volunteers throughout the county. Their compassion and extraordinary energy uplift us all and improve the lives and livelihoods of everyone. Thank you, Kitsap County Volunteers!

Volunteers truly are a work of HEART!

 

To learn more about Kitsap County volunteer opportunities, visit http://kcowa.us/volunteer.

Contact Information

Kitsap County Commissioners' Office Volunteer Services, rpirtle@co.kitsap.wa.us


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