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The town of Windsor has a need for more young volunteers to help enrich and maintain the locality as a great place to live, work and play.

The topic of youth volunteerism came up in a public comment shared by Julia Paul during the Windsor Town Council meeting on July 9.

“I have the lovely pleasure of working with our town manager, our town clerk, our mayor and several of our other members on the (Town of) Windsor Events Committee as a volunteer,” Paul said. “(We had) a very low number of volunteers this year, but we hope for more, and I know that everyone’s put their heart and soul into everything that we’re doing, and I just want to say ‘thank you’ to the community groups like the Woman’s Club of Windsor and some of our young people of the town that are doing great things — we just need to get them more involved and encouraged to do more things.”

She praised Boy Scout Troop 41 for its involvement, and she also lauded Town Council members for being gracious to the Events Committee.

“We just want to make Windsor a better place,” she said.

A few young adults already active in volunteer work within the town recently took time to share their experiences and to encourage their peers to join in.

THE EXPERIENCES OF YOUNG VOLUNTEERS

As Paul mentioned, she is joined on the Events Committee by Town Clerk Kelly N. Kuhns.

“As town clerk, I felt it necessary to become involved in the community in a different capacity,” said Kuhns, who is 34. “My hope was to get to know more about the town of Windsor and its residents by helping plan events that celebrate the town and its citizens alike.”

Kuhns noted that the experience has been great.

“I have gotten to know and work with not only the talented individuals on the committee, but also the businesses and citizens that help make our events successful,” she said.

Danielle Craig is both a member of the committee and a business owner in the community.

“I’m honored to be recognized as one of the younger people working to make a difference for the town of Windsor,” Craig said. “I am 31 years old, have an 11-month-old and a 4-year-old and am married to a very wonderful man who supports all my endeavors. I’m also the co-director of Studio 37, the dance studio here in town.”

She noted that her involvement as a volunteer in town began in 2022 with the Windsor Christmas Parade.

“Post-COVID shutdown, my co-owner of the dance studio, Amanda Drewry, and I wanted to know why the Christmas parade was not returning,” Craig said. “When I inquired with Town Manager Mr. William Saunders, his response was essentially, ‘We have no one to run it.’ 

“So we sat down with what is now known as the Town of Windsor Events Committee and made it happen,” Craig said. “We made it happen so that our dancers could march and perform in their hometown.”

Windsor Town Councilman Jake Redd is 28 and has been a member of both the Windsor Ruritan Club and Windsor Lions Club for more than six years.

“I have the pleasure of serving as president in both clubs currently,” he said. “I also help on various town committees.”

He said, “I believe that volunteering can make a positive impact, especially in a small community. I am blessed to have mentors who pushed me in the right direction and have taught me how much difference a positive person can make. I have also found that volunteering has made a positive impact on myself and taught me many valuable skills.”

He noted that his volunteer experience has been “truly amazing, especially when I see the positive changes that my own efforts have made.”

Carter Goerger is scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 41, and he shared how the boys that Paul highlighted and their leaders have been helping out in town.

“Troop 41 youth and leaders have volunteered over the last year by assisting the Windsor Woman’s Club in putting out flags at the town cemetery for Memorial Day, cleaning the Tyler Cemetery in December and May, taking part in the opening ceremony for the Town Fourth of July Celebration, picking up trash along Spivey Town Road (our Adopt-A-Highway), assisting the Ruritan Club with its annual Pig Pickin’ fundraiser, providing a program for the Ruritan Club at its February meeting, participating in the Christmas parade, helping the Friends of the Library with its Breakfast with Santa (event), and helping with the Isle of Wight County Fair,” Goerger said. “They have also provided service with conservation projects to several landowners in the area during camping trips.”

He offered his perspective on the impact this volunteer work has had on those performing it.

“I believe these volunteer service opportunities help to instill a sense of community, service and thinking of the needs of others in our youth and adult members,” he said.

AN APPEAL TO POTENTIAL YOUNG VOLUNTEERS

To the young people reading this article, Kuhns said, “I would say that one of the most important things you can do is to get involved in your community. You will be surprised at what you can learn from the process and the people you will encounter along the way.”

Craig emphasized that events like the Windsor Christmas Parade and Fourth of July Celebration do not plan, organize or run themselves.

“As Julia Paul said, we need more volunteers,” Craig stated. “The clubs and organizations that started these events years ago, such as the Woman’s Club, Lions Club, and the Ruritans Club have majority older members. These clubs are still very supportive of the events today, but we need more young blood to continue their hard work.”

She noted that she understands how times are different now.

“(In) most households both parents work, kids are in school or daycare majority of the day, and families are lucky to eat dinner together after a night of ball or dance,” she said. “I understand the last thing people want to do is add more to their already busy schedule, but I encourage the community members to step up in whatever capacity works for their family unit so that the next generation gets to enjoy these events. That is my ‘why,’ that is why I add this to my plate — my kids. Not just my own flesh and blood but for all of my kids at the studio.”

Goerger said, “To anyone considering volunteering in their community, I would say that such opportunities help to improve the community, which is an extension of their home and family. It also affords those individuals character development, better social understanding and can be fun, especially when working with other like-minded citizens.”

Redd said he would encourage all young people to volunteer or get involved in their community in any way they can.

“There are numerous ways for young people to get involved, and when they do, they will witness a positive impact on both their communities and themselves,” he said.

Those interested in volunteering in some capacity with the town or with the Windsor Lions Club or Windsor Ruritan Club can contact Redd at JakeMorganRedd@gmail.com.

Those interested in volunteering with the Woman’s Club of Windsor can contact Club President Mary Lee Willis at 757-635-8241 or mwillis43@verizon.net.

Craig stated that anyone interested in further information about the Town of Windsor Events Committee or in volunteering for an event can email TownofWindsorVAevents@gmail.com.