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WSSRA thanks its many volunteers
Updated: May 20, 2012 8:32AM
The week of April 15 through April 21 is National Volunteer Week.
Sponsored by the Points of Light Institute and the Hands on Network, National Volunteer Week celebrates the positive impact volunteer actions have on communities. This year’s theme is “Celebrating People in Action.”
Volunteers lead by example by encouraging the people they help and motivating others to serve as well.
West Suburban Special Recreation Association thanks the many volunteers who strengthen the families we serve. In 2011, 170 volunteers donated 2,369 hours to WSSRA which saves us $23,321 in staffing dollars annually. These volunteers helped us provide quality therapeutic recreation for individuals of all ages and of all ability levels. WSSRA volunteers often help our staff by:
• Teaching new skills;
• Increasing self-esteem;
• Modeling social skills;
• Promoting a child’s
communication abilities
• Improving our participants’ fitness levels and;
• Celebrating our participants’ accomplishments.
Families touched by disabilities often are asked to look at their loved ones’ challenges rather than abilities. WSSRA’s volunteers are encouraged to focus on the opposite — to focus on what our participants can do. We salute our volunteer’s efforts to help persons with disabilities be successful at WSSRA programs.
Marianne Birko
Executive Director
Franklin Park
