Two Moose Jaw organizations have a common problem — lack of volunteers.
Both Moose Jaw Crime Stoppers and the Prairie Arts Festival are looking for individuals to volunteer some hours to help with the work of these groups.
The Crime Stoppers’ board meets once a month to discuss crimes that the police department has been unable to solve and it also makes recommendations on the amounts of reward money to be paid to tipsters if the crime is solved.
Several long-term board members, for various reasons such as retirement or relocation, are leaving or have already left the board, thus the recruitment for new members.
One of the side benefits of being on this board is the chance to see firsthand how the Moose Jaw Police Service works. Another benefit is to make a contribution to the safety of the community.
The Prairie Arts Festival board is down to three members and desperately needs an infusion of enthusiastic workers if this summer event is to continue, even on an every-other-year basis.
As the brainchild of Gary Hyland, the festival’s initial years were successful and gave rise to the idea that the festival would grow each year, with new activities continually being added. Unfortunately, the board stumbled along the way after Hyland became ill and his much-needed guidance was no longer available.
Some hard-working board members are attempting to maintain the festival, even on a reduced basis, but the only way they will succeed is if more volunteers can be convinced that it is a project worth saving.
The loss of the festival would be a disappointment to the local tourism industry and to residents who looked forward to the entertainment, the visual arts presentations, and those amazing 3-D artworks that decorated River Street.
The situation facing Crime Stoppers and the Prairie Arts Festival is not unique to them. The Saskatchewan Winter Games committee is also short of its 1,500 objective, and other service clubs can’t seem to find the extra hands they need to continue with the level of services they provide to the community.
There are dozens of opportunities for volunteers to make a difference in Moose Jaw — just take a moment and pick one — and begin that feel-good feeling of giving, learning and helping others.
