Earlier this week North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper declared April 17 – 23, 2022 as National Volunteer Week in North Carolina to celebrate the important work volunteers do across the state. It is also a chance to encourage more North Carolinians to volunteer.

In Polk County there are plenty of ways to serve the community through volunteering and the Board of Commissioners is so thankful for the work volunteers have done and will continue to do.

“When citizens agree to serve on a Polk County Volunteer Board, they decide to give their time and energy to give back to their community using their skills and experiences,” said Tommy W. Melton, Chairman Polk County Board of Commissioners. “We all know time is a precious commodity, and the Board of Commissioners appreciate each person who willingly gives their time and talents to serve others. The people of Polk County are what makes this the greatest place to live.”

More than 2.8 million North Carolina volunteers have contributed over 265 million hours of service in 2021, meaning 35% of North Carolinians volunteered last year. More than 30% of North Carolinians participated in local groups or organizations and over 50% of North Carolinians donated $25 or more to charities.

In 1974, National Volunteer Week was established by presidential proclamation to acknowledge and promote the value of community service across the country. National Volunteer Week has been federally celebrated each year since then as well as through many states across the country.

Locally, Polk County has 30 volunteer boards with 220 seats. There are currently 24 vacancies, so there are plenty of chances to serve in the community.

For more information about volunteer boards, please check out this webpage.