Volunteering is important in communities nationwide. Every county has different objectives and expectations for their residents and many could not be met without the help of volunteers. In Polk County, the following organizations thrive due to the needs of the surrounding area.
Habitat for Humanity of East Polk County has expanded exponentially as the demand for adequate housing and affordable payments surpassed the number available in the county. The East Polk County Chapter focuses on providing local citizens with a home. Each expecting homeowner is required to volunteer for a minimum of 250 hours on their home but without the help of community volunteers, they would be unable to build these homes.
The Polk County Chapter of the American Red Cross offers aid for the community in emergence situations. They offer CPR training, host workshops and provide other forms of instruction for residents. Volunteering for the American Red Cross allows the organization to adequately prepare for disaster situations, reach the community in times of need and subsequently, help rebuild.
The Lake Wales Care Center provides an array of community services. They cannot positively influence the surrounding area without numerous volunteers performing a vast quantity of services. Everything from Meals-On-Wheels to office tasks are completed with the help of volunteers. The community knows the Care Center will provide assistance in times of need.
Keep Polk County Beautiful strives for a clean, environmentally friendly community. With the help of volunteers, the organization not only actively improves the community but they promote environmental activities to highlight current concerns and emphasize the importance of keeping the community ‘beautiful.’ Keep Polk County Beautiful’s programs, such as waste reduction, recycling and disposal of solid waste, would be severely hindered is it wasn’t for the dedication of volunteers.
An organization I am very fond of is Big Brothers Big Sisters. They revolve around the participation of their volunteers. Big Brothers Big Sisters caters to the needs of the adult volunteers and the younger applicants. If there were no individuals willing to participate, the association would be entirely unsuccessful; volunteers play a chief role. They organization relies on the contributions of time from community members to give back to the less fortunate.
