Volunteering spirit is alive and well in one Offaly town
Kilcormac gets great response to call out for new volunteers
OH, what a ride it’s been in Kilcormac! After the world turned topsy-turvy and our beloved volunteer ranks thinned out, Kilcormac Development Association (KDA) found itself in a bit of a pickle. But did they let that get they down? Not a chance! they rolled up their sleeves (metaphorically, of course – they mostly sent emails and made calls) and launched into what could only be described as a “Volunteer Hunt”!
For four weeks, their mission was clear: Find the hidden heroes of Kilcormac and get them on board. And oh, did they have a plan! They became volunteer matchmakers, pairing up the willing and the able with tasks that wouldn’t scare them off. “Fear committees?” they said. “Not here! How about just hanging out with us for a bingo night every now and then?” The message was clear: They wanted their time, not their souls.
And guess what? It worked like a charm! Their ranks swelled to a mighty 82 volunteers, eager and ready to bring back the buzz to Kilcormac. The bingo balls started rolling again, the tea room’s kettle was back on the boil, and their meetings? Well, they’ve never been livelier with fresh faces and ideas.
But wait, there’s more! Their “Welcome Wagon” – the Failte Isteach programme – is now bustling with activity, teaching English to their new Ukrainian friends with the help of the Offaly Local Development Company. And as for the Tidy Towns group? They’ve been cleaning up – quite literally! Not only did they beautify the streets, but they also snagged a Pride of Place award and an Endeavour Award, making them all puff out their chests a little bit more with pride.
It turns out, all they had to do was ask – and maybe clarify that they weren’t asking for a lifetime commitment, just a bit of their time. The response has been nothing short of heartwarming, proving that when it comes to community spirit, Kilcormac’s cup truly runneth over. So, here’s to the volunteers, the lifeblood of the community – you’ve shown that even the smallest contributions can lead to the grandest adventures.
If you would like to get involved in anyway and become part of this dynamic team which is bringing life back to Kilcormac please contact the KDA office on (057) 9135445.