To the Editor:

In recognition of National Volunteer Appreciation Week (April 21-27), I would like to encourage readers to celebrate the extraordinary people who donate their time to improve our communities or simply help friends or neighbors.

I urge everyone to take a moment to recognize volunteers by writing thank-you notes, sending flowers, taking them to lunch, or posting a tribute on social media.

The Oxford dictionary defines a volunteer as “a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task.” Yet being a volunteer is so much more. It’s about connecting with neighbors, schools, communities, and those less fortunate. It’s about people sharing their hearts, time, and knowledge to improve the lives and spirits of those around them.

VolunteerConnect would like to thank our skills-based volunteers, professionals who contribute their expertise and talents to area nonprofit organizations. Our skills-based volunteers have helped many community organizations advance their missions. Due to their efforts, the Boys and Girls Club of Trenton and Mercer County has a new Computer Exchange Program, Isles has a stronger communications plan, Habitat for Humanity of Trenton has a new website, and Dress for Success of Mercer County has streamlined its technology needs.

I also invite readers to become volunteers in the coming year. Help a neighbor plant a garden, pass out water at a local 5K, coach a team, become a board member, or share professional skills to make a strategic impact at one of the 40,000 nonprofits in our State. Let’s embrace the volunteer in all of us!

To learn more about skills-based volunteering, please go to our website at www.volunteerconnectnj.org or call (609) 921-8893.

Amy Klein

Executive Director, VolunteerConnect