Volunteerism is alive and well in Avinger, Texas.

First of all, Avinger is a small town -- a really small town. The last census placed its population at 444 -- a number that probably stays fairly constant with predictable births, deaths, arrivals and departures. It has one blinking red light, one bank, one dollar store and one gas station. You’ll also find a general mercantile, a uniform shop, an art gallery, a Masonic lodge and a timber company. Avinger has an all-purpose education/event center with a full kitchen, a City Hall, a community park, two restaurants and numerous churches. It has a dedicated and courageous all-volunteer fire department, and one school that boasts a total enrollment of 142 students from grade K-12. That’s about it.

Then again, that’s not all there is. Avinger has a very active Chamber of Commerce that provides the framework for almost all of the city’s public events. There’s an Easter egg hunt in the spring, fireworks and music for Fourth of July, Treasure Trails yard sales in the spring and fall, Turkey Bingo in November, and a Tour of Homes and a visit from Santa Claus for Christmas. Every quarter, the Chamber recognizes a local business with a public reception, and every February, the Chamber presents awards to outstanding businesses, citizens, volunteers and youths. And of course, there’s the Wildflower Trail Festival every April, and the Wine Festival every September.

In the background for all of these events stands a strong and reliable coalition of volunteers who accomplish the innumerable tasks involved in putting on these events. They are not only husbands, wives and neighbors of the organizers; they are local residents who probably have “better” things to do, and local students who, arguably, would rather sleep in on a Saturday morning than almost anything. They can all be found assembling tents, hanging banners and making signs. They arrange planter boxes, wash down sidewalks, set up tables and chairs, and take everything down again. They construct displays and vendor booths. They serve dinner, pour sweet tea, dish up ice cream, and hand out bottles of water. They make countless telephone calls, and trips to the nearest home or store for just one more thing. Lists. Plans. Meetings. Deadlines. These folks are tireless in their efforts to make the little city of Avinger special -- for residents and visitors alike -- and everything they do is on a volunteer basis.

Also found in the Avinger area is the CRESS Foundation, a non-profit group dedicated to community growth and improvement. CRESS has established a student scholarship program, has been collaborating with the local 1936 Study Club in the restoration of the Avinger Community Park, and has installed two “Little Free Library” stations within the city, where residents can “take a book/leave a book.” CRESS is the creator and facilitator of the annual Avinger Wine Festival every September -- by far their biggest fund raiser. (More tables and chairs; more banners and tents.)

Most of us think of volunteering in terms of hours -- “every other Tuesday at the hospital” or “once a month at the school” for example. The volunteers in Avinger operate on a day in/day out, year ‘round basis. They are almost always in the middle of planning, executing or closing out a project. I’m sorry to say, I missed “National Volunteer Week” last month, but that’s okay. They would have been too busy getting ready for Wildflower Trails to enjoy it. So, I’d like to take this opportunity to say to the men, women and students of Avinger who are committed to improving their community, and who always answer the call for help ... thank you. You all help make Avinger a better place to live.