CASSOPOLIS — Without support from numerous volunteers, the Cass County Council on Aging would be unable to provide such a wide array of programs and support to the community.

That is why, every year, the COA finds different ways to show its appreciation for all of its volunteers. An example of this is the Annual Fall Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast, which will take place at 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, at the COA’s Cassopolis location.

“It’s a time for volunteers to get together and connect with each other,” said Bobbie Krynicki, the COA Human Resources Team Leader. “Often, our volunteers are so busy working with different programs in different parts of the county that they don’t always get the opportunity to spend time with other volunteers. So we offer the ability to socialize, as well as a free breakfast.”

At the breakfast, each volunteer will have the opportunity to visit a waffle bar and add the toppings of their choosing. The breakfast is free for volunteers.

In total, Krynicki said that the COA has between 150 to 200 active volunteers, which makes up roughly two-thirds of its staff. Anyone who has volunteered for the COA in the last fiscal year, which started on Oct. 1, 2017, is invited to this event.

Volunteers should have received personalized invitations to the event last week. Additionally, flyers announcing the dinner were posted, a notice was put in the COA’s messenger and full-time staff members have been informing volunteers whenever they see them.

“For this particular event, we invited every volunteer: anyone who has volunteered for our organization for even an hour or half an hour,” Krynicki said. “They are invited and encouraged to attend.”

Volunteers will also be given a small token of the COA’s appreciation, possibly some candy or some other small gesture.

At the COA’s Volunteer Appreciation Dinner in April, some volunteers were given the President’s Volunteer Services Award, which is a national award that only certain organizations are allowed to handout.

There are some COA programs that are comprised almost entirely of volunteers. A full-time staff member coordinates medical transportation drivers, but volunteers are the people who pick people up and drop them off.

The same goes for Meals on Wheels.

“All the meals are actually delivered by volunteers,” Krynicki said. “Multiple programs within our organization are completely volunteer supported. We deliver a lot of meals on wheels that we wouldn’t be able to if we just depended on paid staff.”

Currently, the COA is in need of additional volunteers, according to Krynicki, because some of its former volunteers had to retire from volunteering.

“Because of that, we actually have multiple volunteers spots that are open in the dining room,” she said. “Those volunteers in the dining room provide a vital role in greeting all of our guests and assisting them with any questions. They also help set up the dining room before the meal service, and break things down afterward.”

For more information on the upcoming COA Annual Fall Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast or for volunteering opportunities, visit casscoa.org or call (269) 445-8110.