In these late autumn days with the holiday season looming ahead, it seems that we have no time to place any more items on our busy schedules. Most of our “average” days involve jobs, caring for our family and homes, maybe some exercise on our beautiful trail system or at one of the many local gyms, and time for a meal or two with a few hours of sleep before starting it again. It is hard to believe that we fit it all into a 24-hour day, but we manage. Many of us not only manage it well, but add something special into our daily mix. For the causes and organizations that we find important, we volunteer.
Danny Thomas, comedian and founder of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, said that “Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain or accomplish for yourself, it’s what you do for others.” Many people take that statement to heart. Doing for others is the essence of volunteering. In the Santa Clarita Valley, we are truly fortunate to have so many people of all ages who volunteer their time for a multitude of causes. Some answer the call for a specific event, like the Santa Clara river cleanup or the Santa Clarita Marathon.
Then, there are those who are able to commit to longer-term involvement with an organization. From coaching sports to feeding the hungry, caring for seniors or tending to our wilderness and historic sites, volunteers are among us every day doing their very best for others to make our community a better place. Volunteers are sometimes very visible, and sometimes they labor inside the organization working to create events, develop programs, and of course, planning fundraisers to raise the money to do the organization’s work.
Like all non-profit organizations, volunteers are a big part of the ARTree Community Art Center. In fact, the ARTree is made up entirely of volunteers. Teachers, board members, fundraisers, and event coordinators are all volunteers who care about kids and art in Santa Clarita. Volunteers are always needed. So if you have a few hours once a month, or a few days during the year, we would welcome you as a volunteer to help us bring art to the children of Santa Clarita.
To find out more, contact Bob Hernandez at 818-634-4180 and visit www.theartree.org.