Celebrating Volunteer Appreciation Week: Thank you FPC Volunteers!

Forest Park ConservancyUncategorized

National Volunteer Week starts April 19th, and we are kicking it off early by thanking our dedicated volunteers who help us with everything from hauling gravel for trail maintenance, to helping us build our annual budgets, to helping us process event data and sending out thank you notes to our donors.

Volunteers are the backbone of the Forest Park Conservancy. If you are one of the thousands of people who have given your time at one of our volunteer events, or in any other capacity, please know that we couldn’t have the impact we do in the community without you.

Thank you.

Below are some of the amazing people who our staff worked alongside this last year:

“Chris Knutson is such a sweet volunteer and an awesome person. He is someone who is willing to bike up Cornell road to help clear drains or remove invasive species. Chris is someone who interacts with others really well because of his willingness to share about themselves. I appreciate our first conservation, he was very open and willing to share his experiences in and outside the park.

I also want to appreciate Carlos Hernandez who is one of our amazing volunteers. I appreciate how inclusive he is towards others and he shows that by starting conversations as he did with me. I also appreciate all the hard work that you have done especially during those wet days.”

  • Ahmed Yusef, FPC’s Green Team Member

“Carol is one of the best people I know, and just because we’re both from Texas doesn’t mean I’m biased. Aside from taking on projects, regularly volunteering to help out whether in the office with paperwork and clerical help or on the trails, building retaining walls and training new volunteers, her enthusiasm is unmatched and infectious. Over my time at FPC, she’s grown from a volunteer crew leader and rapid responder to a friend, and I can’t wait to get the chance to move rocks and dirt around the trails again this summer, clearing out drains and culverts, and catching up all the latest news, books, and movies!”

  • Zac Peal, Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator

“I am lucky enough to work closely with many, many wonderful volunteers, but I’d like to send special appreciation to Quintin. Quintin makes it out to work parties whenever he’s able to and has always greeted me with a warm and uplifting attitude, some well-deserved friendly ribbing, and commitment to doing work we can be proud of. Quintin, thanks for making me feel like family—I’m so glad you’re around!”

  • Ingry Thurow, Trails Manager
Trails Manager Ingry and Volunteer Extraordinaire Quintin

“People that voluntarily make the decision to spend some of their free time giving back to the land are some of the most beautiful, compassionate and passionate people. It is an honor and a joy to spend a few hours in our beloved Forest Park with people that find value in helping restore the forest. No matter if we only met once or multiple times every volunteer has made an impact on the forest and my life for the good. Thank you!”

  • Katrina Montoya, Fieldwork and Intern Coordinator

“Our event volunteers at our Annual Party always make our small staff feel like a huge team, helping us make sure everything is organized and helping bring everyone in the community together. Hosting big events can sometimes feel a little daunting but our hilarious and talented volunteers always make it feel like the party it’s meant to be!”

  • Kady Davis, Development and Communications Manager

“I really enjoy working with a few of our more experienced volunteers. They’re always eager to help and voice their appreciation not only for the work we do but just the beauty of nature itself. Along with that, they are always enthusiastic about just getting out there and getting to work. Always down to have a chat or tell a story, it makes the time pass by well during work parties and their presence always helps the project feel less like work.”

  • Joseph Justice, Green Jobs Team Member

Thank you to the hundreds of people who have spent their time volunteering in Forest Park, in our offices, our committee meetings, and in all the many ways you have chosen to give back to the community. We would be unable to get the necessary and visionary work done in the Forest Park ecosystem without you.

Thank you!