Paying the ‘rent’

“Volunteerism is the rent you pay to live in a good community.”
Santa Claus is coming to town on Saturday. There was some doubt this year but fortunately a volunteer has made the difference.
Scott Krienke-Turvey stepped forward to pick up the pieces and ensure the community could greet Santa. Putting together a team of volunteers, the annual Christmas parade will roll out at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.
His team has found sponsors (including raising money to repair Santa’s sleigh), chosen a theme, and again created an excitement in both the young and young-at-heart to kick off the Christmas season here.
As Larry Patrick clearly stated Monday night in his acceptance of the award as “Citizen of the Year” for 2015, Fort Frances is a great community because our volunteers make a difference.
This weekend again will demonstrate that volunteers make a difference.
If we take the time to look around our community this weekend, we’ll see volunteers organizing fundraising for Rainycrest, another group raising funds to bring a refugee family to the district, and the downtown Fort Frances merchants organizing the third-annual “Festival of Frost” featuring a day of activities for the whole family to enjoy.
Next weekend, volunteers have planned an exciting two days of fun in conjunction with Emo’s annual “Holly Daze” festivities.
One only has to go the Memorial Sports Centre on any given night to see the moms and dads volunteering their time to coach and support minor hockey and other programs there.
Whether it is concerts staged by “Tour De Fort,” “Kids & Company,” or the Border Concert Association, volunteers have stepped forward to enrich our lives with music and theatre.
Volunteers are taking time to ring the bells for the Salvation Army’s kettle campaign. Others are answering the call to be an “angel” and help fill hampers for district families at Christmas.
Dorothy Height noted: “Without community service, we would not have a strong quality of life. It’s important to the person who serves, as well as the recipient. It’s the way in which we ourselves grow and develop.”
Without the army of volunteers stepping forward from communities across Rainy River District, our lives would be much different.
It is gratifying to see so many willing to pay the “rent”—and we salute them all.