Lighthouse Ministries founder makes call for volunteers to serve

As part of National Volunteer Week, April 15-21, the ladies of McMinnville?s Junior Auxiliary are inviting the public to attend a special open house at Lighthouse Ministries. The even will begin at 7 p.m. this Saturday, April 21.

This year?s slogan is ?Inspire by Example,? and Lighthouse Ministries director Nathan Smith says the two organizations want to highlight the importance of volunteerism and Volunteer Week is a perfect opportunity to do that.

?National Volunteer Week has been set up by order of the president,? Smith said, adding unfortunately many people these days volunteer more as a way to fill out their r?sum? rather than out of a real spirit of volunteerism.

?The president?s idea is to encourage people to do it because they want to help,? Smith said, ?and not to receive credit for themselves.?

Smith says a number of local groups, including Lighthouse Ministries and Kids of the Community, both of which work to provide positive activities for local at-risk youth, are involved in this event and hope to spread the word about the rewards of being a volunteer.

Smith knows from personal experience the positive effect these kinds of organizations can have on local young people.

?Like this year?s slogan says we should inspire by example,? Smith said. ?A lot of the kids we?re seeing don?t have that model, that example, to look to in order to know how to act, what not to do, even just how to have fun in a constructive way.?

Smith says these groups feel it?s also important to teach these kids about the importance and rewards of volunteering themselves.

?We?re going to go door to door this summer and clean out gutters,? Smith said. ?We?re going to go around the neighborhoods and try to find families that maybe can?t clean out their gutters themselves or don?t have the money to have it done. It gives these kids a chance to help, and also lets the community see that these kids are basically good kids, they just need leadership. We?re trying to be a good example for them, so that they someday will be good examples also.?

Smith says these are great goals, but in order to accomplish them, these groups, and all such volunteer organizations, need the support of the community.

?We need adults, big time, to get involved so that they can provide this inspiration,? Smith said.

Lighthouse Ministries is located at the old skate center behind Fred?s at Northgate Plaza.