Crescent-News.com - Volunteerism drives ahead despite high gasoline prices

By PETER GREER

greer@crescent-news.com

Everyone has had to dig deeper into their wallets to fill up their tank, but despite the generally gloomy outlook in the news, certain aspects of life in the six-county area -- among them, volunteerism -- haven't changed all that much even with $4-a gallon prices.

Among organizations that rely on volunteers for survival and aid, several have reported virtually no change in the way they've been running, while others remain cautiously optimistic.

"(Gas prices) haven't changed anything," notes branch manager Anne Fleischer of Edgerton Branch Library, which uses a number of volunteers in its daily operation. "The volunteer who helps us the most is a senior citizen (who) still comes in as much as ever."

Similar sentiments are expressed from volunteer manager Carol Weidenhamer of Community Memorial Hospital, Hicksville.

"I haven't seen anything up to that point," she says. "Most of (our volunteers) are pretty close to the hospital; (gas prices) haven't stopped them from coming in. Nobody here has come out and said it's too expensive to come to work."

Brenda Wieland, director of public relations and guest relations at Paulding County Hospital, echoes Weidenhamer's statements.

"We have over 100 volunteers," she says. "A lot of them are on fixed incomes. You'd think gas prices would (affect) them a lot, but at this point I haven't seen a lot of volunteering hurt."

No volunteer loss is reported from Defiance Regional Medical Center either. "A couple of people have applied (to be volunteers), and they want to work closer to where they live; the gift shop, for example," says DRMC director of volunteers Shirley Homan. "I can understand that, with gas prices being what they are."

"It really hasn't been affected too terribly," notes Tina Hiler, director of Defiance County Senior Services. "Most of our volunteers use our vehicles. Of course, last month we spent over $5,500 in gasoline. We're trying to be as conscientious with our transportation as we can. No one has backed out; we're very blessed."

Hiler speaks particularly highly of the 40 volunteers in the organization's rest and recreation program, which provides hospice care in order for regular family members to get a break -- and who use their own cars to travel to the homes of the ill. "It tells you the sort of people we have in Defiance County."

"We're not seeing any changes in volunteer patterns," echoes Bobby Olashuk, executive director of Volunteer Connection of Northwest Ohio, which organizes and contributes volunteers for various projects, including cleanup after disasters. "The price increase has not affected us at all. We're not seeing any drop in volunteer rates, nor are we seeing any drop in donations."

Less positive but still hopeful is Penny Mathews of the Defiance Red Cross office, which has 175 active volunteer members, not including youth.

"At this point we have not seen it," she says, "but we expect it. A lot of our volunteers are elderly people on fixed incomes."

But while Red Cross volunteerism is unimpaired, Mathews has already seen a decrease in blood donor activity. She is uncertain as to what its cause may be.

"We can barely find anyone willing to hang posters ... up for blood drives," she says. "The last big blood drive we had at the (Defiance) Eagles on May 23, the numbers were drastically down, 40-50 (people) less than normal.

"Was it due to the holiday weekend, gas prices, the lack of (publicity)? We don't know."

The Red Cross is also looking toward alternative ways to let the people know the drives are coming without having to rely so much on poster hanging, which traditionally requires a lot of driving.

"We're searching for avenues to advertise," Mathews says, "without physically getting in the car."

Organizations such as Williams County Community Theatre have noticed a slight drop in volunteers to help put on plays.

"I've seen a consistent concern," says Chris Avell of WCCT. "We were putting on (a show) and a lady from Defiance told us she couldn't (be in the cast) because of gas prices."

With WCCT performing shows at separate theatres in Bryan and Montpelier, it makes for plenty of driving.

"One thing we've been doing is car pooling," says Avell. "That's one economically good thing."

While no one knows exactly how high gas prices will ultimately reach, if one area church is any indication, volunteerism is alive and well in the area.

"I haven't noticed anything," says Jodi Tunis, a secretary at Hicksville's Trinity United Methodist Church. "We still have the same number of volunteers to help out. We're doing the Lord's work, regardless of gas prices."