Sweet moments and big thanks

September 02, 2024| Community, Events, People

By: Holly Odgers

What a fantastic evening we had at our volunteer appreciation open house last Thursday! We’re grateful to everyone who came out for a wonderful evening filled with smiles, connections, and plenty of old-fashioned “ice cream truck” treats. You can view the event's album HERE. And to ALL of our volunteers, a heartfelt thank you for everything you do. Your dedication and passion are the heart and soul of our successes in supporting our lake and community.

Reflecting on 2023, we're thrilled to share that an impressive 657 volunteers collectively contributed a remarkable 5,388.5 hours of their time. This includes assisting with our lake-wide cleanup, leading educational field trips, supporting events like the Lake Hopatcong Block Party and Lake Loop, as well as ongoing Water Scouts monitoring, trail maintenance, and so much more.

According to the Independent Sector, the value of volunteer time in New Jersey for 2023 was $35.50 per hour. Crunching the numbers, the collective value of the time our volunteers generously contributed totals an astounding $191,292!

These figures represent more than just numbers; they highlight the significant impact of our volunteers' contributions. We are continuously inspired by the willingness of so many to come together and make a difference for our lake and our community.

If you're interested in becoming part of our volunteer community, visit our volunteer page. There, you can sign up for our volunteer list to receive updates on upcoming opportunities, register for current openings (don’t miss the Lake Loop on Oct. 6!), delve into our volunteer handbook, and view this year’s orientation video for more insights.

Once again, we thank our volunteers for being an integral part of our efforts to protect New Jersey’s largest lake and support the community that surrounds it. Together, every accomplishment is just a little bit sweeter.