Published April 5, 2019, by Kelsey Preecs

National Volunteer Week may only be seven days long, but our gratitude for our volunteers is year-round.

Last year United Way was lucky enough to match more than 400 volunteers and over 2,100 donated hours to local community needs. Volunteer projects ran the gamut from building safety kits for elementary school students to canvassing neighborhoods on Martin Luther King Day with information about free tax preparation and Alaska 2-1-1. With every kit, with every step, with every connection, volunteers helped people they would never meet — but cared for nonetheless.

Volunteers strengthen our belief in the kindness of strangers. It’s awe-inspiring to see folks tirelessly giving away labors of love to help their fellow Alaskans.

Volunteers affirm that kindheartedness doesn’t come in one package. High school students, business leaders, stay at home parents, and working professionals all step up to the plate to create a better Anchorage. Through action, they make clear that compassion unites us keeps us from being divided as a community.

I hope in the year ahead to connect even more of our neighbors with opportunities to give back. Nonprofit agencies, the school district, and families across Anchorage continue to see resources stretched thin and are having a hard time keeping up. Donated time, attention, and a little love goes a long way.

Whether you’re passionate about education, health, or financial stability, United Way of Anchorage has opportunities for you to choose how you impact your community. Explore BeTheChange907, an online warehouse of open volunteer positions to help you do good and feel good.

First Lady Rosalynn Carter said that without volunteers, we’d be a nation without a soul. Alaska is fifth in the nation for volunteering and community service. That tells us that Alaskans not only have souls, they also have hearts of gold. Thank you for your service and dedication to improving our community.