Volunteers invest in communities

I’ve known Sam and Teri Burt since they moved to Trout Creek. I went to school with their kids. My dad was a volunteer fireman with Sam at the Trout Creek Rural Fire District.

I’ve always known they are good people and known that they were involved in the community. What I didn’t know, however, was their level of investment in our communities.

When I asked if I could interview them about being grand marshals, they both were very humble. They are honored to be chosen, but they don’t volunteer for the recognition or the glory. Volunteering has its rewards, but it also has its challenges. Every organization, it seems, is in need of volunteers. Organizations that have been around for decades have dedicated volunteers who have also been around for decades.

Part of being a member of a community is investing in that community. That means shopping at local businesses, attending community events, and also volunteering. Around Christmas, The Ledger publishes a comprehensive list of groups and organizations to support in the county. While we often think of giving around the holidays, dedicated volunteers give to our local groups all year long. The Burts have been some of those dedicated volunteers, working with various organizations since the early 1990s. Would they like a break? Probably. But they are passionate about investing in their community. They help organizations like the volunteer fire department and the community ambulance service keep going.

Sam was diagnosed with stage four cancer in 2020. Today he is cancer free. While he has always been a man of faith, his spirituality was heightened through that experience. Sam and Teri remain committed to investing in their community. Cancer wasn’t an excuse to stop being involved. Last weekend, they were volunteering with the Community Ambulance Service in Noxon, standing by at the Blues Festival with bandages and other assistance.

I would encourage everyone to display even a fraction of the passion the Burts have for their community. The investment can be small or large. It all makes a difference.

— Annie Wooden