Volunteering
I come from the small town of Cameron where, as a community, it is often a struggle to make improvements to structures or facilities within our small town due to limited funds or lack of personnel. Because we are so limited, we are very much a “hands-on” community. By that I mean there are many people who are more than willing to pitch in and volunteer in order to make something happen. One example of this is the restoration of our historic 75 year old Cameron Community Pool. It is a unique, semi-circular shaped pool built in 1939, and placed on the National Historic Register. In 2012, a group of concerned citizens formed The Friends of Cameron Pool Committee and began the process of restoring the community swimming pool, which had been closed for approximately five years. It was a daunting task, but one that many people were more than willing to undertake. Every weekend for almost a year, volunteers went to the pool to mow, weed eat, scrub, paint, etc. A new roof was installed on the pool house and concession stand, the plumbing and piping systems were upgraded, concrete pads were poured, the electrical system was upgraded, and many, many hours of volunteer work were put in. There were multiple fundraisers—spaghetti dinners, chicken roasts, musical events, t-shirts being sold, etc. Letters were written soliciting donations from corporations, and the donations began pouring in. People who grew up in Cameron and moved away heard of the project and sent donations. What was originally quoted as an almost $400,000 restoration, which was not affordable for the city, was completed for approximately $70,000 and a lot of blood, sweat and tears from volunteers. On Memorial Day weekend 2013, the pool celebrated its grand reopening.
Another project currently underway in our little town is building a Veteran’s Memorial Park. When I was growing up, a trip to Cameron meant seeing the old war cannon in the center of town. I’m not really sure why, but the cannon was later moved to the lawn behind the bank. Many people missed having it in the center of town, and a group of gentlemen from the American Legion are almost ready to put the old cannon back where it belongs---in the center of town next to the old train depot which, as you might have guessed, was also restored with the help of volunteers.
If you see something within your community that needs improved upon—don’t complain—pitch in and lend a hand and be part of the solution and not part of the problem. Volunteering for your community or for a cause near and dear to your heart can be a wonderful thing.
