Since 1974 when then-President Richard Nixon signed a National Volunteer Week into law, volunteers have been honored in the United States and Canada for one week in mid to late April. National Volunteer Week is this week here in the States, April 10-16.

Organizations and businesses rely on volunteers and benefit from their talents here in the Boothbay region, across America and Canada. Volunteers derive many benefits as well — they spend time doing something they enjoy and/or programs they support (i.e. gardening at a botanical garden or on an island and volunteering at the food pantry or community center), meet new people, learn new skills, and are part of something greater than themselves.

And, let's not forget the health benefits! Studies reported from Medical School show volunteering reduces stress (and who doesn't need to do that in today's world?), volunteering just 100 hours per year lowers blood pressure, and, feeling connected helps stave off depression, loneliness and boosts one's feelings of self worth.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.”

Here are but a few organizations in the region fueled by volunteer power:

F.I.S.H.: Friends In Service Helping

Friends in Service Helping (FISH) was launched in 2000 as an outreach offering to the community from St. Columba’s and All Saints by-the-Sea. Volunteer drivers provide transportation for folks living on the Boothbay peninsula.

In need of a ride to (and back home from) a medical appointment — doctor's checkups, dentists, eye doctors; rehabilitation appointments, support groups, chemotherapy and other treatments? F.I.S.H. will get you there. Volunteers do drive to Miles Memorial and Mid Coast hospitals, and occasionally to PenBay in Rockland and Maine Med in Portland.

Ideally, rides should be scheduled 48 hours in advance; but folks should call at least 24 hours in advance so a volunteer can be arranged. Or, as soon as they know they will be needing a ride.

Wilson says there are 50 drivers right now, 12 are “snowbirds” (summer residents), but more year-round drivers are needed. To become a volunteer driver, call Susan Wilson at 207-633-6320. Year-round drivers are always needed.

To contact F.I.S.H. call: 207-633-4357 (HELP).

F.I.S.H. is a volunteer-only service. To make a donation, make checks payable to F.I.S.H., and mail to FISH, c/o Susan J. Wilson, P.O. Box 635, Boothbay ME 04537.

Rebuilding Together of Lincoln County ~ www.rebuildingtogether-lc.org

This total volunteer organization began mobilizing in our region in the summer of 2002. The first Rebuilding Day in Boothbay was held on May 3, 2003.

Over 100 strong, skilled, semi-skilled and non-skilled residents continue to gather annually in spring for Rebuilding Day, and tackle winter projects such as frozen or backed-up pipes.

Rebuilding Together Day in 2016 is Saturday, May 14.

Applications, accompanied by a copy of the previous year’s tax return, are all that is needed for an inspection by board members for approval. Homes are selected for R.T. Day on a case-by-case basis.

Home repair — inside and outside — is what it is all about. Woodworking, indoor and outdoor painting, installation of windows, doors, bulkhead replacement, the construction of handicap ramps, yard work, minor electrical and plumbing work are completed by skilled and non-skilled workers.

For more information and to volunteer, call Sally Barter at 207-633-6063.

Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library ~ www.bmpl.lib.me.us

The Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library and Friends of the Library operate with 20 volunteers at the library and many, many more are needed as “Friends” in the used book store.

What do volunteers do? Work the front desk by greeting and assisting readers looking for books, check books in and out, answer the phone, process all inter-library loan books, shelve books, do data entry and update or clean up the catalog record. Library volunteers also deliver books to shut-ins, repair books, and keep up the gardening of the grounds.

No special background is necessary to join the card catalog of volunteers. The library is particularly interested in finding someone to be at the front desk on a regular weekly basis.

For more information — and to sign up — call Joanna Breen at 207-633-3112.

Boothbay Region Land Trust ~ www.bbrlt.org

The Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT) was founded in 1980 evolving into a leader in the preservation of 30 miles of coastal and woodland trails of varying degrees of difficulty.

As one would expect of a conservation group of this size, volunteers are the “heart, mind and backbone” of the organization. To date, BRLT relies on over 400 volunteers, including board members and committees.

According to BRLT environmental educator Tracey Hall, on average there are 200 volunteers giving their time and talents that keep BRLT's properties and programming going annually.

Volunteers assist in the office with the newsletter mailing, meeting and greeting people, selling merchandise, answering phones, photocopying, providing information for signups for events, write thank you notes, and working in various capacities on special projects.

If you yearn for the outdoors, and/or possess ecological knowledge, volunteers act as nature guides and hike leaders, help clear the trails of any debris, and walk the preserves to detect any problems that need to be addressed.

To volunteer at the BRLT, contact Diane Gilman at the Land Trust office: 207-633-4818, shoot her an email: dgilman@bbrlt.org, or stop in the office at 137 Townsend Avenue in Boothbay Harbor.

Boothbay Railway Village ~ http://railwayvillage.org

The Boothbay Railway Village (BRV) spans the years 1850 to 1950, and is comprised of historic buildings housing exhibits, historic buildings that are the exhibits, an extensive antique car collection dating back to 1897, railroad, household, and antique fire trucks and equipment, a narrow-gauge steam train ride, and gift shop.

Volunteers at BRV are involved in the restoration of antique equipment and antique cars, perform maintenance on vehicles and trains, paint buildings, help with necessary carpentry projects, and repair/replace railway track, gardening, meeting and greeting, and are docents or conductors. There is also electrical work on crossing signals and the like.

For a complete description of volunteer activities visit http://railwayvillage.org/get-involved-2/volunteer.

If living in the past during the present intrigues you, at Boothbay Railway Village you'll be on the right track! Call Business Manager Maureen Stormont at 207-633-4727 for more information — and to volunteer.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens ~ www.mainegardens.org

Incorporated in 1992, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens began taking shape in 1996. In 2005, it became New England’s largest botanical garden, and is one of only a handful of botanical gardens in the U.S. with a saltwater waterfront.

Over 300 volunteers devote their time and talents to help care for the 270 acres of groomed trails along shore and ledge-lined waterfront landscape.

Volunteers at CMBG are committed to helping in a variety of areas: visitor center ambassadors greeting visitors as they arrive, shuttle drivers, at the visitor center gift shop, as flower arrangers for the visitor and education centers, as docents, as music series ushers, working in various capacities at events, as fairy house contractors, helping with mailings (including off site with small member mailings); by adopting a garden or trail and acting as caretaker of it throughout the growing season.

Volunteer Coordinator Jo Gammans says CMBG is always in need of docents/people who love gardens and shuttle drivers. Shuttles transport visitors to and from the parking areas and around the grounds.

For more information, contact Gammans: jgammans@mainegardens.org or call her at 207-633-4333, Ext. 8035.

Lincoln County Animal Shelter ~ http://lcas.me

The Lincoln County Animal Shelter, on the Atlantic Highway in Edgecomb, has relied on animal-loving volunteers since it first opened its doors on April 30, 1987.

Volunteers take dogs for walks, play with the canines and felines, clean kennels, cages and litter boxes, bathe dogs, help train dogs, some perform clerical duties, help at meal times, groom cats and dogs, fostering animals, administrative assistance, data entry, facilities and maintenance, greeting and assisting visitors and potential adoptive parents. In spring, there is also a lot of outdoor work to be done.

If you have a special skill, for example, at Coastal Humane Society in Brunswick, a Reiki practitioner is on hand to offer treatment to the resident animals, the folks at the animal shelter would love to hear about it.

Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. If you love animals and would like to enrich their lives — and your own — call the shelter at 207-882-9677.

The  Morris Farm ~ www.morrisfarm.org

The volunteers at the Morris Farm are a vital part of the farm’s success.

Volunteers work the farm’s annual events including the Tour de Farms; plant sale day, Open Farm Day, and Community Thanksgiving Dinner. The farm also seeks volunteers to help with care for animals, lawn-mowing,  weeding, watering and harvesting the crops and more. For more information about the volunteer opportunities at the farm, visit www.morrisfarm.org or call 207-882-4280.

Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum ~ http://wwfry.org

Located in Alna, the WW&F Railway Museum was founded in 1989 to acquire, preserve and restore the operation of narrow gauge railroads and equipment, and to display artifacts.

To volunteer — just show up! All ages, abilities, and interests are welcome. WW&F is an ALL-volunteer enterprise. From greeting visitors to repairing and operating the train. Perhaps you see yourself as part of the train crew, tending the grounds, helping with events, being a docent, pitching in during a work weekend, or helping out at one of the many events.

If you often find yourself humming “I’ve been working on the railroad” and have longed to actually DO it, just show up at 9 a.m. some Saturday, or call ahead for more information: 207-882-4193. All aboard!

Meals on Wheels

This program has been alive and well in our region since 1973, begun by another one of the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor’s former ministers, Reverend Charles Hartman.

Over the years meals have been prepared by the Congregational Guild Women’s Group, at the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club, the former St. Andrews Hospital, Boothbay Region Elementary School, and for the last dozen or so years, at St. Andrews Village.

Drivers are key to this operation. There are 12 drivers delivering approximately 35 meals, once a day Monday through Friday – and five sub(stitute) drivers. The program is looking for more drivers – particularly someone to be the regular Wednesday driver to Southport – and others for the sub list.

Meals on Wheels delivers in Boothbay Harbor, West Boothbay Harbor, East Boothbay and Boothbay. Edgecomb is served by the Damariscotta program.

To schedule delivery or volunteer to be a driver, contact Pat Wheeler at 207-633-4370. In late fall and winter, contact Board Member Peggy Peters: 207-633-2743.

To send a monetary donation, make checks payable to Meals On Wheels and mail to: Meals on Wheels, c/o Peggy Peters, 82 Oak Street, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538.