Every Who down in Who-ville liked volunteers a lot...But the Grinch, who wrote to The Free Press, did NOT!
'Tis the season for giving, and giving of one's self. Fa-la-la-la-la. But how much is a volunteer really worth? In dollars and cents.
A recent letter to the editor castigated a Richland volunteer because the Water Authority paid her the princely sum of fifty dollars. $43.88 after taxes. "You do not provide your time for free", complained the Grinch.
The Grinch was upset! During the holiday season! Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason .
News Flash: volunteers make up the vast majority of just about anything that shakes and bakes in Smalltown, USA. And many key volunteers do receive at least a little something in exchange for their time. It rarely reflects the value of their efforts.
There are seven Fire and Rescue companies in our Who-ville. All are manned by Who-volunteers. While those brave men and women are saving your home from destruction, or saving a family member from death, I doubt that you would be concerned about whether their annual banquet cost $43.88. Or whether they stayed warm with $43.88 worth of firehouse heat. Or if the Who-chief received an appreciation gift worth $43.88.
Or maybe they used $43.88 worth of Who-fire company detergent and water to clean the soot, and charred debris, off of their protective suits, and out of their volunteer Who-eyes, ears, noses, and mouths.
Rumor has it that Cindy-Lou Who brings those Emergency folks an occasional cup of coffee, and a donut, while they battle Who-disasters for you. Shame on them for not providing their time for free.
It could be the Grinch wasn't feeling quite right. It could be, perhaps, that her shoes were too tight. But I think that the most likely reason of all, may have been that her heart was two sizes too small.
Did you and your kids enjoy Who-Community Day? You might be shocked to learn that the volunteers actually were given food and drink during their 12-hour shift. Dastardly. How many of you will use the new Park and Recreation facilities built by the Who-township with the $22,000 from the first two Who-Golf Outings? The volunteers sure took advantage of us there, too. Hot dogs and sodas for all, y'all!
I can't even count the number of Who-pancake breakfasts and Who-ham suppers around here. Chances are that you, your kids, friends, or someone in your family helped out with at least one of them. You were...all together now... Who-volunteers. Should you have accepted those T-shirts and balloons? And I swear that I saw some grandmotherly Who-cooks actually sneak a few bites themselves. Should we investigate to see if they were truly providing their time for free?
But whatever the reason, (and we'll shed no tears), the Grinch didn't appreciate Who-volunteers.
What does $43.88 get you today? A meal for two at a medium-priced restaurant. A tank of gas. A pair of cheap jeans. One shoe. Our volunteers are robbing us blind, wouldn't you say?
Richland has 60 or so unpaid positions on the various boards and committees. Milford has over 20, Quakertown about 30. The borough's downtown revitalization has been spearheaded by Quakertown Alive! volunteers. The train station has been restored with money raised by freebirds. The Sesquicentennial is being planned by 30-40 more.
Do you think that anybody is questioning the dedication of these Who-folks, or whether they are receiving a token of someone's appreciation along the way? It is traditional, and pretty much expected, that volunteers are compensated in some way, from as little as a lunch, to watches, plaques, and other goodies worth, maybe, $43.88 for long-time Who-activists.
On a national scale, sleigh-loads of volunteers came from as far away as the North Pole to help the Who-relief efforts in Florida after four hurricanes devastated the state. These selfless people were housed and fed by local charities, funded from contributions and Who-tax dollars. No doubt it cost more than $43.88 per person. Are you outraged that they did not provide their time for free?
And the Grinch, who felt ANY reward was no-no, stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so"?
And how about political campaigns, from the local Who-races right up to the White House? For every paid staffer, there are hundreds of thousands of volunteers nationwide. They got out the vote to record levels this year. They went door to door for their Who-beliefs. But were they bona-fide volunteers if they were rewarded with $43.88 worth of campaign buttons, snacks, and the election night Wh-bash?
And, of course, there are the ultimate volunteers, the men and women of our Who-armed forces who are fighting, and dying, in the Middle East. But they do not provide their time for free. No Who-sir. They receive over $3000 per month, way more than our Water Authority pays. Will anyone be writing to the editor about this gross overpayment of a volunteer?
The Grinch in the Seuss book learned a lesson from Whos, but has our local Grinch followed the news? Not so far, anyway, because, it appears, that HER name is not among Who-volunteers:
Not on a township board or committee. Not Cleanup Day. Not the Golf Outing. Not Community Day. Not the train station, nor the downtown, nor the Sesquicentennial. She has done zippo for the police, or the fire companies.
It just seems, sad to say, if our Grinch had her 'druthers, she is perfectly content to just criticize others.