Volunteer appreciation toast – June 26, 2014
Life is short.
On our headstones will be the etching of when we were born and when we died. (show sign 1960-2050)
What matters are not the years mentioned – it is the dash – that little dash – that’s our life. It represents the short time we have here to make a difference – or not.
And making a difference means many things to many people. But for you, the volunteer, that dash is most significant.
Some give money – sure – but it can be paid back. A volunteer gives time. TIME - the most precious resource in our lives.
Look again at that dash (show sign). How many hours are in there? Once you give an hour of your time, it is lost forever. That hour you gave volunteering will never be replicated. Your time volunteering must be valued, but we can never put a value on time. How can you value something that is so priceless?
As a volunteer you bring much to our organization, Meals on Wheels. You bring skills, advice, experience, friendship, vision, leadership, inspiration, hope...... and you bring time. You choose to donate the most precious commodity in the known universe.
We may count your time in hours. We may attempt to count your time in money. Though such methods have their reasons we will all be poorer if we don’t realize that the giving of your time is simply and utterly magnificent.
So today we take a little time to thank you for the time you so willingly give. Thanks for spending some of your “dash time” for us.
Please stand and join me in raising our glasses to our wonderful volunteers!