Barbara Lawlor, Nederland. Last Thursday night, the Town of Nederland hosted a thank you party for about 150 people who give of their time to help make the town organizations run smoothly and welcomingly. They are what makes the town special, a warm and friendly place to live and visit. Delicious gourmet appetizers and desserts were served with wine and beer, and the volunteers had a chance to meet and chat with other people who help out with town chores.
These people don’t volunteer because they get a party at the end of the year; they offer their services because they love to help others and understand how many hands make a job easier. They know a community is built on a common ground of sharing and supporting.
Nederland Town Administrator Alyssa Reis said, “This party is a thank you Christmas gift to all of you who help us feed people who need it, who help us build a better town and who are there in times of emergency.” She also told the group that next year a site for affordable housing will be available when the Nederland Public Works moves its present worksite to Ridge Road. This is the original site that had been agreed upon in the Mud Lake Open Space agreement over a decade ago.
Kristi Venditti said developing and operating the Nederland Community Clothing Closet was her way of giving back to the community. “How else would things get done in the community if no one volunteered?”
Five years ago Kristi learned that there were some teens living in the park and they had no warm clothes. She asked around and discovered that people in the area had many clothing items they wanted to give away and she put the need and the abundance together, found a place and put the word out. The Community Clothing Closet is a great deal for both the givers and receivers and the volunteers who sort and hang the clothes get first pick.
“It’s so easy,” says Kristi, “And it provides so much for the community.”
With his long white beard and easy smile, Tom Hartleb can be seen often at the Visitor’s Center, waiting for tourists and athletes to drop in for looking for information on the local restaurants or the wilderness trails that surround our town. Hartleb has also been a volunteer with the fire department for 25 years, finding it difficult to retire. “I keep getting the call asking for help from us old guys. I actually volunteer to make up for all the bad things I did while growing up. If St. Peter has a clipboard, there will be a lot of checks in the minus column.”
Hartleb says meeting people is fun and interesting and everyone is nice, thankful and never insulting. Hartleb also volunteers with Health 9, the seniors and the pancake breakfasts, and the Backdoor Theater.
The Backdoor Theater was started years ago by Kayla Evans, who volunteers just about every chance she gets in many different Nederland organizations and non-profits and is well known as the person who gives out candy in the theater raffles before every show. She says, “Volunteering is the best secret in town. You think you are doing something for someone else and you discover you get way more payback than you give.”
There are many volunteering opportunities in town. Have fun, meet your neighbors and add a little joy to the world. Contact Dawn Baumhover at the community center to see where you would fit in. 303-258-9721 or nederlandcommunitycenter.org.
