For so many families, the years fly by quickly. For Maria Hirsch she is finding that volunteerism is helping her spend a little more time with her kids.
    Hirsch has worked at Hi-Way 9 Express for a number of years, a company that has a culture of volunteerism.
    “I just started a few years ago,” said Hirsch. “It’s all because of Heather (Colberg). Working there she would ask us to help with the food drives.”
    Colberg was also volunteering as a volleyball coach, and motivated Hirsch to also try that out.
    “I didn’t even know the teams were looking for coaches, and Heather was coaching. When her daughter moved up, she moved up and they needed someone for the younger players, and that is when I stepped in.”
    She has been coaching St. Anthony’s volleyball girls teams for a few years now as her daughter Stephanie and Samantha play, and has helped with basketball. She is coach of the areas’ U17 club volleyball team, with players from DVSS, St. Anthony’s and Delia School.  Provincials are coming this weekend.
    “Having  14 and 16 year old daughters, we don’t have a lot of bonding time at this age, they don’t want a lot to do with their parents that much,” she chuckles. “Plus it keeps kids busy and physically active, and not getting in trouble.”
    With so many groups and charities out there competing for support, she likes to help out in her home community.
    “To me, we have to look after our own first. We have to do what we can to help out,” she said.
    Last year she began to help out the DinoFest as it was including a Farmer’s Market as part of the events. This was right up her alley, as she has been active with the Drumheller Farmer’s Market for a few years. This year she is organizing all the vendors for DinoFest.
    She finds value in volunteering for and with young people. She makes sure to bring her kids long when there are volunteer opportunities. She feels this builds them up and also gives them something to put on a resume as they enter the world of work and post secondary education.
    “Children are our futures, if we don’t help them compete, socialize and learn, and teach them to volunteer, our futures are not going to be as bright. They are going to be looking after us and they are going to need volunteers.”

    It takes volunteers to build a community.
    Sixty-four year old Carbon resident Sam Charlebois is the embodiment of that sentiment. Charlebois is one of Carbon’s most active volunteers, being president of the Carbon and Area Restoration Society, a member of the Legion, and volunteering in any cause that needs help.
    “I’m mostly involved with the Carbon and area restoration society, which, originally involved the restoration of the oldest building in town. We try to keep things going, look for grants, and keep the building maintained,”  said Charlebois. “Anything that comes along that needs help, we pitch in. We’re here to help promote the community and bring good things back to town.”
    Charlebois came to Carbon after retiring from a 25 year career in the RCMP in 1996. Although he was posted in a number of different places, he, and his wife Susan, always made it a point to volunteer as much as they could.
    “Helping people has always been my forte, so hopefully what goes around, comes around, and we make things better for everybody,” said Charlebois. “I volunteered throughout my whole career for hockey, baseball, and soccer teams, wherever I was posted, as our kids grew up.”
    Charlebois can trace his roots in Carbon back to 1901, when his grandfather made the trek out west.
    “Carbon is my home-town. I was born and raised on a farm near here. My grandfather came here in 1901 and my family heritage goes back to 1567,” said Charlebois.
    Despite his many efforts, Charlebois feels volunteering and helping the community involves everyone and Carbon is fairly lucky in that regard. He feels, though, for small communities to continue to thrive, the younger generation needs to step up to the plate.
    “I think Carbon is a great example of people helping people. We’re certainly not the only ones in the village. There are a lot of volunteers here. It makes for a better community spirit. We try to promote unity and helping each other, because we need it,” said Charlebois. “Volunteers make the difference. Otherwise, things wouldn’t work.”