April 19-25 is National Volunteer Week. Are you involved? In our area, much of what we take for granted runs on or is significantly operated by volunteers. The fire departments, food banks, litter pickup, museums, the Senior Center ride and lunch programs, recycling, the pool, the art center, this paper. They’re all run completely or partly by volunteers. We all benefit from some or many of these organizations. The following list barely scratches the surface, but it’s a start.
• Patagonia Creative Arts Association/Tin Shed Theater
Purpose: To support, advance, promote and educate cross-cultural awareness, participation and expression in all areas of the arts: visual, literary and performing.
• Patagonia Regional Aquatic Center
www.patagoniapool.org and www.facebook.com/PatagoniaPool
Supporting the beautiful public pool on the Patagonia Union High School Campus
• Borderlands Restoration NetworkÂ
Borderlands partners to grow a restorative economy by rebuilding healthy ecosystems, restoring habitat for plants and wildlife, and reconnecting our border communities to the land through shared learning.
• Community Homes of Patagonia (CHOP)Â
Building partnerships and resources for permanently affordable housing
• East Santa Cruz County Community Food Bank
The food bank’s vision: No one goes hungry in East Santa Cruz County.
• Family Health Care Amigos/Purple Elephant Thrift Store/Lending Shed
The Lending Shed offers durable medical equipment – which is repurposed and recycled, including wheelchairs, walkers and rollators – and incontinence supplies.
• Friends of the Patagonia Library
The mission of this independent non-profit organization is to support and expand a community of readers and to stimulate a love of books and learning.
• Patagonia Area Resource AllianceÂ
A grassroots alliance defending our community from the impacts of industrial mining to keep our lands, water and wildlife healthy for generations.
• Patagonia Volunteer Fire & RescueÂ
 520-841-1497, info@patagoniafireaz.orgÂ
• Senior Citizens of PatagoniaÂ
The mission: To provide hot and nutritious meals and transportation five days a week to senior citizens and people with disabilities who live in the Patagonia, Sonoita, Elgin and Canelo districts, and to transport senior citizens and people with disabilities to hospitals, medical and dental visits, the airport and shopping.
• Patagonia Youth Enrichment Center
Providing a safe, healthy, happy environment where young people from Patagonia and surrounding areas gather to gain life skills, enjoy positive community, and work with supportive adults to grow as strong, responsible, and successful leaders.
• Patagonia Community Garden
Celebrating community connections, regenerating the land, and cultivating food and flowers.
We’d like to add to this list! Please send information about your volunteer organization to Clare Bonelli at clarebonelli@gmail.com. Please include the name, a description, a website address if available, and a contact name with a phone number or email address.