To thank local volunteers who help make our community a better place to live the City of Susanville is proclaiming the second week in April Volunteer Appreciation Week. Volunteers are invited to attend this Wednesday night’s City Council meeting, where they will be honored for their service.
“Over the course of time,” explains City of Susanville Project Manager Quincy McCourt, “amazing events and activities have happened; whether small or very significant they all have one thing in common, the people who make it happen. The City of Susanville whole-heartedly recognizes the importance of these people. Although we think of them as super heroes, we note it is the friends, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, grandparents and children of our community who are the vital piece in all the hard work that goes into the improvement of Susanville.”
“One word, while sometimes undervalued, is used to described these magnificent people. Volunteers,” continues McCourt. “Our volunteers are the blood, sweat, and tears of this community, they are the ones who put their heart and souls into ensuring their home is the best it could possibly be, they are the ones who do not bat an eye when help is asked of them, and they do it all out of generosity. Without pay, without incentives; they are simply what makes Susanville hometown proud.”
Saying that this community would be lost without its amazing volunteers McCourt points to the wide spectrum of local volunteerism – Coppervale ski lift operators and medics, volunteer firefighters, volunteers at the police department, national public land volunteers, advisory and decision making boards, event helpers, different groups and organizations, local businesses, supervisors, thrift stores, students… “the list truly goes on and on,” says McCourt, “No matter what one’s involvement might be, it makes an impactful difference within our community.”
McCourt, whose department oversees projects throughout the city, described local volunteers as one of the building blocks and fundamentals of where we live.
Through the City, volunteers have taken part in numerous ‘Community Days,’ lending a hand with tasks like landscaping the Community Pool where volunteers put down top soil, placed plants per design, fertilized, ran drip line, set up irrigation and still currently help with pool organization, cleanliness and general pool duties.
“Throughout the effort, volunteers were eager and proud of their accomplishments while also keeping a light and joking environment.”
The Community Garden has also been a major accomplishment for volunteers, who have put in countless hours digging trenches, pruning trees, pulling weeds and puncture vine, picking up debris, cleaning structures, preparing walking paths, forming raised beds and running irrigation and drip line.
Susanville volunteers have also acted as an extension of City staff to assist with grant narratives, research, Community Outreach and to provide valuable feedback.
“Volunteers have put in heaps of effort to hopefully bring to life projects the community has been asking for,” said McCourt. “On top of all this, they have helped in numerous beautification days, by picking up loads of litter from around the city.”
Volunteers are encouraged to attend Wednesday night’s meeting which begins at 7:00 in Council Chambers at 66 North Lassen Street.
For more information about how you can be a part of Susanville’s volunteer community email Quincy McCourt at [email protected].
