Museums and historic sites all across the country recently celebrated National Volunteer Week from April 19th to 26th, and Riversdale House Historic Site and Museum was no exception. As many of my colleagues in the realm of public history are probably well aware, museums generally have very small staffs and even smaller budgets. Therefore, it is essential that places like Riversdale are armed to the teeth with a crew of volunteers of able body and mind, ready to take on any task that a given day may call for. Our volunteers truly come from all walks of life, ranging from young teenagers to elderly retirees. No matter who you are, we can find something for you to do!
Volunteers assist us with a wide variety of tasks here at the historic site and museum. Most importantly, volunteers lead two daily tours of the historic mansion that is the centerpiece of this historic site every weekend. Volunteers also assist with administrative tasks like staffing the front desk and sorting mail. They can even be found working in the community garden on site, or helping out with historical cooking demonstrations or other special events. See my previous post for more on historical cooking!
As someone who started his journey in the museum world as a volunteer here at Riversdale two years ago, I have experienced firsthand the personal enrichment and sense of purpose that volunteering provides. Now that I am employed at Riversdale as a part time staff member, seeing volunteers contribute to our mission of inclusive interpretation continues to be a source of joy.
When I found out from one of my colleagues that it was National Volunteer Week, I jumped at the chance to help her assemble gift bags as tokens of appreciation for the many volunteers who assist us day in and day out. Gift bags included notepads, pens, t-shirts, and my personal favorite, a mason jar-style water bottle complete with a straw and an inspirational message to boot!
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