Today we would like to introduce you to Victoria, the Executive Director of Grasslands Regional Family Community Support Services, who was kind enough to sit down for a chat with us to discuss their community and their 2024 National Volunteer Week.
About Grasslands FCSS
Grasslands FCSS is a multi-municipality organization covering the city of Brooks, the county of Newell, the village of Rosemary, and the village of Duchess. Historically, their organization was a major source of funding for the community, but with the retirement of their last executive director, who had been with the organization since it formed in 2004, there has been a change in the strategic direction. While they still offer funding opportunities for their local area, their current focus is shifting to more internally run programs like Volunteer Week. They strive to build healthy, safe, inclusive, and engaged communities where people in their communities believe they matter.
National Volunteer Week Celebrations
A Brooks staple tradition is their Citizen of the Year award, which has been going on for over 50 years. This tradition expanded in 2000 when they added the Junior Citizen of the Year award, and they decided to do things a bit differently in 2024 as well. Nominations were received from multiple community groups, and those nominees were gifted tickets for their families and organizations to attend the gala, creating a special opportunity to celebrate the amazing people who made an outstanding impact on their communities. All the organizations that nominated volunteers were given booth space to connect with attendees and share their volunteer opportunities. Victoria was happy to see how much more accessible the event became, saying, “It made it a really nice well-rounded event, […] it was a really nice way to join everyone together.”
The Value of Volunteers
Victoria explained to us the importance of volunteers in smaller communities, “Things don’t happen unless volunteers to do them. So, our volunteers in our community are really the ones that set the page for how our community is going to look going forward. They build the community spirit, they get people involved, and they make events happen.” This was one of the reasons behind the decision to invite all nominees to their gala, as each of their impacts on the community really mattered. She expressed how grateful she was that there were people who wanted to get involved, as they make the city of Brooks and the County of Newell a great place to live.
Creating space for new volunteers
Brooks is a very diverse and unique city, with a large population of newcomers and visible minorities. As Victoria explains, “Oftentimes getting people actually out and wanting to be involved in things isn’t people’s first priority when they come here. They’re dealing with a lot of trauma and settling into their new community.” During these first few years, newcomers may rely on the community as they focus on settling into their new home. Thankfully, there are volunteers like their 2024 Citizens of the Year, Dwayne Perkins and Zan Qi Tian, who are so involved in areas of support like recreation and mentoring. Their dedication to the community showcases how much the Brooks and Newell County region embraces diversity, which allows newcomers to flourish. Over time, as they settle in and integrate into their community, they become next generation of people to give back to their community.
Victoria’s insights reflect the dedication and adaptability of Grasslands FCSS in fostering a supportive and inclusive community environment. We look forward to hearing more about their 2025 Volunteer Week event and how they will continue to celebrate volunteerism in their communities!