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‘Spirit of Endiang’ honoured volunteers in the community

Verla and Dan Buchwitz celebrated their 50th anniversary by recognizing volunteers in Endiang.
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The Endiang Community Hall was a sea of familiar faces on Saturday, June 24, as volunteers and community members gathered together to appreciate and honour one another.

Organized and hosted each year by Verla and Dan Buchwitz, the event was called “The Spirit of Endiang,” a social evening with supper and entertainment.

“We host this event to raise a toast to all the volunteers in the community and this year we are recognizing very especially the contributions of the homestead families,” said Verla Buchwitz.

After supper, entertainment was provided by Dellas (Sorensen) Raessler; Mark Fecho and Heather Brown; The Kittlers with Mike O’Hara; and the Country Friends Band, which included Donnie Johnson, Irene Brooker and Shirley Lumsden.

“Volunteerism has always been strong in small rural communities like Endiang,” said Les Stulberg, Endiang resident and county councillor. “I started volunteering at a young age and found it extremely rewarding to accomplish good things for your community through working together as a team – a sentiment common among most volunteers I would think.”

Stulberg said that volunteering builds community spirit and a sense of belonging.

“As rural populations dwindle and people lead busy lives, it becomes more challenging to get enough volunteers,” Stulberg added. “Dan and Verla Buchwitz have hosted a volunteer appreciation evening for the past two years. I believe they wish to recognize the volunteers and let them know their services are not being taken for granted.”

Stulberg praised the efforts of the Buchwitzes in recognizing and promoting the importance of volunteering.

“From my vantage point of a county councillor I see the value and positive results first hand due to volunteerism and working together,” Stulberg explained. “Many of the facilities that the county residents enjoy today wouldn’t have existed without volunteer efforts. And my community of Byemoor -Endiang is a prime example of having a strong volunteer contingent, as ‘Endmoor’ folks from both districts work side by side to achieve great things.”

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