Cheers &Jeers

April is volunteer month and quite frankly, there aren’t enough cheers to say enough thanks to all of the volunteers in our communities.

They truly are unsung, unpaid, heroes.

Volunteers touch every aspect of our lives.

They are responsible for so much of what happens in our communities.

They feed our hungry, they coach our children, they help our seniors, they organize and run events and festivals, they clean up our roads and beaches, they fundraise for important causes.

They’re in our hospital gift shops, they make up many of our sports organizations, they search for us when we’re lost, they respond day or night when our homes and businesses are on fire.

They cook, they deliver, they paint, they build, they teach, they provide comfort, they inspire.

There are so many things they do that – pardon the cliché – the list is endless. And without volunteers there is a lot that wouldn’t happen in our communities at all.

They are young and they are old. They have jobs and they are retired. They’ve been volunteering for a few days, or they’ve been volunteering for a few decades – with every other timeframe interval in between.

Our quality of life wouldn’t be the same without everything that volunteers do.

And think of all of the money they save us, in turn, by giving freely of their time.

Many of you who are reading this are likely volunteers, so thank you.

Maybe you’re someone who has considered volunteering, why not go for it.

You won’t get paid in dollars, but the riches you will receive will come in many other forms through your experience.

To our volunteers: Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Cheers to you all!

JEERS: Litterbugs

If you litter, shame on you. If you throw garbage out your vehicle window, shame on you.

If you discard trash and items in the woods or on other people’s properties, shame on you.

Honestly, what makes people think it’s okay to throw trash away in anywhere other than a trash can, dumpster or landfill?

And imagine if everyone did it. Our communities would look awful.

Looks aside, littering is also bad for the environment and wildlife, even though the crows and seagulls seem to appreciate it.

There are good reasons why littering is against the law in Nova Scotia and comes with fines if you are caught. It’s debatable whether the fines are high enough to serve as a deterrent. We also suspect, there are many people who litter who never get caught.

That’s the thing about littering, it’s quick and easy to do. Still, its wrong.

Here are better suggestions, especially when you’re driving. You can dispose of your waste when you stop at a gas station for fuel. They have garbage bins for your convenience. Or keep a bag inside your vehicle to put your litter in. Then when you can get home you can dispose and separate it as appropriate – waste, recyclables and compost.

Fortunately there are communityminded, caring people that will clean up after you. But they shouldn’t have to.

Where is the harm in hanging onto your trash until you can properly dispose of it?