For 52 weeks of the year, seven days a week, volunteers are out there making Okotoks, Black Diamond, Turner Valley and the Foothills area a better place to live.
So what happens, for that one lone week of the year when they get recognized? It gets slightly put on the backburner as local celebrations for National Volunteer Week have to be done online or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s likely just as good, because of a result of the pandemic, there might be just too many volunteers -- who are just too busy,
Important organizations like the Okotoks Food Bank continue to operate thanks in large part to the efforts of its volunteers.
Those volunteers are respecting self-isolation and putting in the effort in order to keep the bank open and feeding those in need in the Foothills.
However, it’s not just the efforts of volunteers at structured organizations that need to be recognized.
There has been plenty of behind the scenes volunteer activity going on.
Those individuals who are doing the small things like picking up your groceries or running errands for self-isolated neighbours are playing a key part in keeping the community going.
And there have been a stream -- livestream -- of musicians who have entertained the Foothills during the pandemic.
One of the events cancelled during National Volunteer Week was the Leaders of Tomorrow banquet, which recognizes the efforts of young people.
They will have a plethora of nominees once this COVID-19 passes.
From 13-year-old Owen Plumb making PPE face shields and 14-year-old Riviera Steinberg sewing scrub bags to the teens working at food drives and youngsters decorating home windows, they have all made Okotoks a better place.
So National Volunteer Week is a bit different this year, but this year, volunteers have been more important than ever.