Volunteers are the heart of every non-profit organization and at Camp Fire First Texas, we are very fortunate to have so many volunteers who make a difference in the lives of youth through their service with Camp Fire.
Some of our programs, like El Tesoro de la Vida, our camp experience for children who have lost a loved one, and An Artists’ Christmas, Camp Fire’s annual fundraising event, are extremely visible programs in our community and couldn’t be successful without the many, many outstanding volunteers who work countless hours to make sure that everything is well-planned and executed. But there are many other volunteers who are often working in the background, giving of their time and talents, and who are rarely publicly recognized for their efforts.
Take for example, our Board Development Committee. This group of volunteers work year-round to identify the needs of the Board, recruiting individuals who are committed to Camp Fire’s purpose and have a desire to serve on the Board. However, there’s more to it than that – we are committed to diversity and inclusion, making sure that our Board is representative of the community by geography, gender, ethnicity, and a diversity of thought. It’s also important that our board includes individuals with a wide variety of skills, experience and connections in the community. This year’s committee did a great job, as always, in identifying candidates for election in January.
Sometimes, we are just lucky in having volunteers who bring others along with them. Thanks to a generous grant from the Junior League of Fort Worth, we were able to renovate Camp Fire Diamond Hill Station (DHS) and purchase all new furniture and equipment for the children and youth who attend the after school and summer day camp programs at DHS. When the furniture was delivered, it came in flat boxes – which meant all of it had to be put together. I doubt this was on his plan for the day, but Robbie was home from college visiting with his parents. His mom had promised to help put furniture together – so Robbie came along with her to DHS. It turns out that the two of them are quite adept at constructing computer desks. 
Camp Fire is also fortunate to have the support of community professionals who share their expertise directly with our youth. One such example is Chef Manny, who recently demonstrated to the DHS after school youth how to make ice-cream using nitrogen. Manny grew up in their neighborhood and has a special place in his heart for young people. The after school youth are still talking about how cool it was to see him create something special combining art and science.
And speaking of DHS – other volunteers gather school supplies and deliver them to DHS every August, then come again with holiday goodies, every year, like clockwork – all very quietly. Linda, Lou and Connie have been friends for a long time and enjoy doing this every year, just because they care about the kids. We appreciate their commitment to the youth we serve – please keep coming!
Whether it’s a committee, a family, a community professional, or a group of friends – these are our unsung heroes, working quietly behind the scenes as volunteers, ultimately helping our youth find their sparks, lift their voices and discover who they are. Thank you, volunteers!
Ann Sheets is the President/CEO at Camp Fire First Texas. Ann has been a part of Camp Fire since childhood, beginning as a Blue Bird and later earning the WoHeLo Medallion as a youth member. As President/CEO of Camp Fire First Texas, Ann heads one of the largest and most active Camp Fire councils in the nation. She is a graduate of George Williams College, receiving a master’s degree in camping administration in 1977 and was recognized as the Distinguished Alumna in 2007. She was named the 2012 CFO of the Year – Non-Profit by the Fort Worth Business Press.
