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Happy Volunteer Week 2022!

By Mission Volunteering In Mission Volunteering

Happy Volunteer Appreciation Week 2022!

2022 has brought back so much joy and spark to the Virginia Living Museum. This year has seen COVID restrictions ease, and the long-awaited opportunity to see all of your smiling faces again! We have all faced incredible hardships this past year, but every single one of us is amazed by all of you for coming in every single day to help VLM the best it can be. Your dedication to this museum is appreciated, and we could not do this without you. Volunteers truly are the heart and soul of the museum! To celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Week, we will be highlighting two volunteers who have
graciously offered their time to tell us about their experiences volunteering at the VLM. The two volunteers we’re spotlighting today are Violet Johnson and Catherine Kmetz.

 

Violet Johnston

Violet started volunteering with us in 2021 and is one of our junior volunteers. Some of her favorite aspects of volunteering at the VLM are being part of a community that shares similar passions when it comes to educating the public about the importance of native wildlife and conservation. Violet’s favorite memory of volunteering is her very first time running the Touch Tank. Time flew by, and she fell in love with working with the animals and getting the public interested in native wildlife.

The VLM is a special place for Violet because she spent a great deal of time here as a child. Violet’s dad was often on deployment for the Navy so her mom, Violet, and her siblings loved to go on fun adventures while he was away. Not only did Violet love to see the gator and sharks, but she also had several birthday parties here at the Museum. Violet is just one example of how amazing our volunteers are at the VLM. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us, and we are so glad that you chose the VLM as the place for you to find one of your passions, Violet!

 

Catherine Kmetz

Catherine has been a volunteer at the VLM since 2010. She enjoys working the Touch Tank, the Outdoor Trail and the Dino Park. She has also enjoyed the special exhibits in the changing gallery… and engaging visitors, of course! Catherine has worked some special events, meeting wonderful patrons and guests and pouring some delicious wine. Thank you, Catherine, for sharing your experiences with us. We hope that you know how much we appreciate you and every single one of the volunteers here at the
museum!

In 2021, a total of 321 volunteers and interns accumulated 24,238.75 hours of service! The VLM had volunteers from over 14 different cities around Hampton Roads. All of these incredible numbers would not have been possible without your support and dedication.

Once again, thank you for all that you do for the VLM! Volunteers are such a vital part of the energy and enthusiasm we see each day. We could not do it without you, and we hope that you enjoy this Volunteer Appreciation Week. You deserve to be celebrated, this week and always! Happy Volunteer Appreciation Week, and thank you for everything!

Written by: Gabby Finch, VLM Bonner Service Scholar