Editorial: Volunteers deserve celebration

Tracey Chatterton.

Volunteers are the heart of many charities, organisations and communities. This week we take the time to celebrate those who give their time freely - all 1.2 million of them. They can be found patrolling beaches, behind counters at charity shops, in soup kitchens and scattered around sports fields.

Many organisations blossomed from volunteers, including one that has had a hand in helping thousands of Kiwi families - Plunket.

Plunket was established in 1907 to help mothers and their babies. More than a century later people are still volunteering, whether it be by running the local Plunket Facebook page or staffing the family centre.

Volunteers also keep a close eye on our beaches.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand chief executive Paul Dalton said 4513 lifeguards spent more than 220,000 hours on patrol at 80 beaches across the country. They rescued more than 1500 people from life-threatening situations last season.

The Returned Services Association is another organisation that relies on its volunteers, who take to the streets each year on Poppy Day.

Each day this week we will publish an interview with one of the many who give their time.

Today Mark Laurent explains why he dedicates his time to Cranford Hospice.

Yesterday Havelock North man Mike Lusk said he volunteered for conservation work to "help undo some of the dreadful damage that has been done to the environment".

He leads Friends of Te Mata Park, who dedicate their time to controlling weeds within the park. And our environment is all the better for it.

It is comforting to know that so many people make time for others. Our communities wouldn't be the same without them.