Thurston County proclaims April Volunteer Appreciation Month; search-and-rescue, Stream Team and Habitat for Humanity highlight volunteer roles

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners on April 15 proclaimed April 2025 as Volunteer Appreciation Month and heard presentations from several local volunteer organizations about how unpaid community labor supports public safety, environmental stewardship and affordable housing.

The proclamation, read by Chair Ty Mentzer, recognized volunteers’ contributions across “housing services, resource distribution, community response services, and more,” and encouraged residents to honor volunteers’ work. The board recessed briefly after the proclamation for photographs and to host a volunteer fair outside the meeting room.

Marcel Allen, president and training coordinator for Thurston County Washington Explorer Search and Rescue (TC WESAR), told the commissioners volunteers provide “people, canine, planning, coordination, logistics, and training to support…