International Volunteer Day is held annually on 5 December and is an occasion to pay tribute to volunteers worldwide. This year, the theme of the day was "The Power of Collective Action: If Everyone Did".
In the spirit of gratitude and appreciation, our small team here at Volunteer Marlborough (plus a couple of volunteers), hosted a sausage sizzle in the heart of our town centre to mark the occasion, and honour and celebrate the invaluable contributions of the many, many dedicated volunteers in the Marlborough community. The day was filled with laughter, camaraderie and, of course, the tantalising aroma of sizzling sausages!
The team pulled out all the stops to ensure community volunteers felt cherished and recognised for their selfless efforts. The sausage sizzle served as a small token of our gratitude, aiming to bring people together to enjoy delicious food and foster a sense of community spirit.
Held in such a central location - The Forum - we attracted both volunteers and passersby. Many laughs were had, seagulls fought over dropped sausages (oops!), and tales told. Volunteers were encouraged to share their experiences and stories, and those who don't (yet) volunteer were encouraged to visit us in office to learn more and be inspired.
This sausage sizzle event would not have been possible without the generous support of local businesses and community members. Their sponsorships and contributions played a crucial role in making the event a resounding success. Many thanks to Mike at Meaters for his donation of sausages, and to The Local Butcher for their support and the use of their trailer. Thank you, also, to Andrew for helping out with the sizzle, to Colin for transporting the trailer back and forth for us, and to Jacinda for jumping in at a particularly busy time. And to the many people who gave donations in lieu of a free sausage, we appreciate you! It is heartwarming, as always, to witness the collective effort and support displayed by our community members, demonstrating that together, we can do just about anything!
This was a great, albeit small, celebration of our community volunteers. Through delicious sausages and heartfelt appreciationg, we were able to express our gratitude for the many selfless contributions being made in Marlborough.
Volunteer Marlborough remains committed to supporting and recognising the efforts of volunteers, without whom our community would not thrive.
