New clubhouse a result of dedicated volunteers

MAT-SU -- The Mat-Su Valley Boys and Girls Club relies on volunteers every day. One teen is making a big difference for the organization.

Keith White is only 18, but his contributions to the Boys and Girls Club have been big.

Linda Anderson, manager of the Boys and Girls Club, said White's impact is felt every day.

"It's really neat for us when teens take a leadership role in the organization, because that's our foundation," Anderson said. "When the kids get excited to help, it gets us excited."

White attends Alaska Job Corps, and he has done a number of projects for the Boys and Girls Club, which opened a brand-new 8,600-square-foot facility last week on Bogard Road.

During the grand opening Thursday night, White was in the parking lot, directing traffic as a volunteer.

In late October, White worked every night to make sure the Boys and Girls Club Halloween haunted house was a success.

"He has been a wonderful partner with us on a number of projects. From the haunted house to everything else he does, Keith has been great," Anderson said.

He also has been a great recruiter for the Boys and Girls Club.

"He is real motivated to help, and he has been instrumental in motivating other Job Corps students to come and volunteer with us," Anderson said.

White also was helpful to the Boys and Girls Club as the organization prepared to move its cluhouse during recent months.

The Mat-Su Valley Boys and Girls relies on volunteers for virtually every project it undertakes.

Last year, more than 2,500 volunteer hours were recorded in the clubhouse, and that doesn't include all the management and fund-raising volunteer work that took place on a daily basis.

"We have two or three volunteers in the clubhouse every day," Anderson said. "A lot of our volunteers are teens, and it's nice to see them getting involved, because that's who our organization is based on -- the kids."

Communities in the Mat-Su Valley benefit every day from the work of volunteers.

Mostly, the work performed and the volunteers themselves remain out of the spotlight. They are faceless people who give their time and their talent each day, without expecting or receiving much recognition.

We want to change that. Is there a volunteer your nonprofit agency simply could not live without?

Does one person make a big difference in your life every day, all without asking for anything in return? If so, please let us know.

We want to shed light on the efforts many of these unassuming people give every day to charities, nonprofit agencies, local organizations or even their neighbors.

In future issues of the Frontiersman, we will highlight some of these people and the work they perform that makes the Mat-Su Valley a great place to live.

To nominate a person to be highlighted, please e-mail the person's name, a contact number for them and for yourself, and a brief description of what makes the work they do important.

E-mail submissions to editor@alaska.net, or mail them to the Frontiersman, 5751 E. Mayflower Ct., Wasilla, AK, 99654.