Volunteer For Hope: National Volunteer Week
National Volunteer Week: A Front-Row Seat to the Selfless Acts of LMC Volunteers
As we close National Volunteer Week (April 19-25), we are overwhelmed with gratitude. For 36 years, community volunteers have been a part of Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s (LMC) core. With the help of more than 800 total volunteers, LMC is able to operate its campus and welcome over 360,000 guests annually each year.
For most of them, they’ve chosen to volunteer their time to restore hope for our sea turtle patients and ocean conservation. Daily, they inspire our guests to take action, learn more about marine biology, and become involved. Their passion is infectious and their commitment is inspiring. We thank all of the individuals who have and currently volunteer their time at LMC.
These individuals serve in almost every department of LMC, volunteering their time to helping spread LMC’s mission and vision of sea turtle and ocean conservation. With their help, LMC is able to make Waves of Progress and touch the lives of many. Thank you to our community of amazing and passionate volunteers, we couldn’t do it without you!
During this week, we’ve reflected on our modest beginnings when we first welcomed volunteers on LMC’s current campus in 2007 and recorded an annual 3,130 volunteer hours. Since then, our organization has expanded in every way possible along with our growing roster of volunteers – and that by no means is a coincidence.
In 2019, our volunteers submitted an astounding 49,000 plus service hours and clocked in an average of 3,600 hours a month. These individuals are required to commit to a minimum of a 3.5 hour shift each week for a six month period, however many of the volunteers go above and beyond by volunteering in multiple departments, attending special events, picking up shifts, and supporting LMC online.
It goes without saying that we are in awe of the altruistic acts of our loving volunteers. The ever-pressing question during COVID-19 has been – “What can I do to help?” The rallying cry has been met with community volunteers who have continued to pour their support into LMC.
Since LMC’s campus has been closed to the public, we have not been able to welcome our more than 500 volunteers on our campus. Although most of our volunteers have not been able to attend their regular shifts, they’ve continued to dedicate their support to LMC by participating in online events, donating items and funds, and sending resources to the team at LMC. During COVID-19, we’ve especially witnessed the power of volunteerism with some individual members donating 50 plus hours of their time
Our volunteer community is comprised of some of the most caring, benevolent, and incredible people our community knows. With their help, we are able to lead over 39 educational programs, educate guests on our current sea turtle patients, rehabilitate sea turtles, document life at LMC, and maintain LMC’s campus.
It is because of the charitable spirit of our 360 active volunteers and our more than 800 total volunteers that we can treat our sea turtle patients year-round. They have freely given their skillsets to support all nine departments at LMC, and in a world full of uncertainly, we remain resolute by the steadfast commitment of our volunteers. It is thanks to their belief in our mission that we are able to become a global leader in endangered sea turtles and ocean conservation, no matter the circumstances.
Thank you to each and every one of you who pour your passion into LMC, we miss you at the Center and hope to see you in person soon!
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Loggerhead Marinelife Center. Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) is a nonprofit sea turtle research, rehabilitation and educational institution that promotes conservation of ocean ecosystems with a focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles. The Center features an on-site hospital, research laboratory, educational exhibits and aquariums, and also operates the Juno Beach Pier, which hosts world-class angling and sightseeing. Situated on one of the world’s most important sea turtle nesting beaches, Loggerhead Marinelife Center is open daily and hosts over 350,000 guests free-of-charge each year. The Center’s conservation team works with 90 local and international organizations across six continents to form partnerships and share conservation initiatives and best practices that are core to its mission of ocean conservation. The Center is expanding and has launched its Waves of Progress capital expansion campaign, designed to accelerate and amplify LMC’s conservation and education impact. For more information, visit www.marinelife.org or call (561) 627-8280.
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Media Contact:
Lauren Eissey
Public Relations and Engagement Specialist
561-627-8280, x124
leissey@marinelife.org