Community Thread :: Stillwater MN

WHAT IS COMMUNITY THREAD?

Community Thread is one of eight regional Volunteer Centers connecting people through service. We make volunteering easy! We serve 17,000 people each year through the Volunteer Center, Senior Centers in Stillwater and Bayport, Neighborhood Service Exchange, Transportation Program, Holiday Bureau and Medical Reserve Corps.

For more information, select a program listing to the left, join us for a community event, or visit us during weekday business hours.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Baubles & Bangles Jewelry and Bake Sale
at Community Thread
Thursday, August 16, 9am-5pm

BE PART OF THE STORY

It was their first time volunteering as a family. Tracy and Jeff McGuire and their three kids, ages 7, 10 and 12 (in 2009), started the summer season by volunteering at the Spring Into Service event in May. By the time they finished up their assigned tasks, all three of the kids turned to their mom and said, “That was really fun!”

The McGuires’ “summer of volunteering” started out as just a way to keep kids busy during the summer and to continue learning while out of school. But since then the McGuire family has made helping others a priority. They’ve helped elderly and disabled neighbors with home and yard chores, done some grounds keeping work at their elementary school, played with and read to children who needed care, and helped families in need during the holidays.

”As parents, we all try to make sure that we’re teaching our children good values. We want them to be fair, generous, and kind. We want them to have empathy for other people. Volunteering is an excellent way to teach those values.” Tracy noted “I think it has been educational for them in recognizing that the world is a different place outside of their home. And they’re learning that they have talents and abilities that they can share with other people.”

The McGuires are a busy family, but no matter how busy they become, they make time for volunteering. “It is really hard,” Tracy added. “But I want them to learn that it’s a priority, so we do what we can when we have a free block of time and we know somebody has a need. And I think we just try to keep in mind that volunteering . . . [helps us] understand that the world works best when we help each other.”