April is National Volunteer Month, which seeks to recognize and celebrate the contributions of volunteers and also encourages individuals to become more involved in serving their communities. More than 1 billion people volunteer worldwide, and most recent available research from AmeriCorps reported that more than 75.7 million Americans (more than 28 percent) formally volunteered through an organization in 2023, contributing more than 4.99 billion hours of service with more than $167.2 billion in economic value.
Dallas-area resident Minok Merrick, who can often be seen hustling and bustling behind the scenes at local road races and other large-scale events, said she initially began volunteering when she was younger to fulfill school credit and graduation requirements for the National Honor Society. Her experience comes in handy now, as she regularly works with volunteers across a wide variety of events throughout the year, ranging from sports competitions to festivals. Merrick, who is an outgoing and social individual, said she enjoys opportunities to work with so many different people who choose to volunteer.
“As I transitioned to professionally managing events, I found myself responsible for managing staff and volunteers,” she said. “Coordinating volunteers is truly a people-centered role—you have to appreciate the individuals who willingly dedicate their time to support an event.”
One individual who consistently gives her time to volunteering is Dallas-area resident Liz Orozco. She uses chances to serve others throughout the community as opportunities to spend time with her family while contributing in meaningful ways.
“I initially started volunteering more frequently when my daughter, Natasha, and I joined National Charity League (NCL), which is a mother-daughter organization that promotes philanthropy, leadership, and mother-daughter relationship through giving back to the community,” she said. “Although we have met our required hours, Natasha has a set personal goal of completing 100 hours per year because she has realized the simple gift of volunteering goes a long way.”
Orozco said they try to volunteer at least four times per month and have volunteered at SPCA of Texas, Dallas Children’s Theater, and Feed My Starving Children the most. They have also volunteered at Walk to End Alzheimer’s in both The Colony and Dallas and, most recently, at the Strut Your Mutt event through SPCA last Saturday.
“What I enjoy most about volunteering is being able to be a part of something rewarding through the gift of time,” Orozco said. “When volunteering at FMSC, there are so many different tasks that no matter the mood or exhausting day you have had, you leave with a smile. When you find an organization with similar interests, it is fun. With the SPCA, they look for volunteers to hang out with the animals, play with and pet them, and take them on walks. For us, it is perfect because we don’t have pets, and so it’s our time to play with cats and have fun.”
For Merrick, her favorite part of volunteering comes in people form.
“Volunteering allows me to connect with an incredibly diverse group of individuals, spanning different ages, races, education levels, professional backgrounds, and more,” she said. “I also find it fascinating to learn about the motivations behind why people volunteer—whether it’s for school credit, professional growth, personal interests, or even perks like free event access or gear.”
There are plenty of opportunities and places for individuals to volunteer throughout the metroplex. In addition to the aforementioned organizations where Orozco and her family volunteer, North Texas Food Bank, Ronald McDonald House Dallas, Operation Kindness, Dallas CASA, The Senior Source, Mercy Street, Austin Street Center, and a variety of additional entities are always in need of extra help. Orozco said she believes that more people should take advantage of opportunities to volunteer in their communities.
“I have these conversations with my children—that no matter your financial status, you can always give your time and volunteer,” she said. “When volunteering for a cause such as FMSC, it puts things in perspective and helps you realize that there are many people out in the world with less than us, and they are still content with the little they have. At the Dallas Children’s Theater, they need volunteers to serve as ushers, and the fun part about it is that after you usher, you get to enjoy the performance. Through our church, Parkway Hills Baptist Church, there are volunteer events that take place weekly, locally in Plano, in downtown Dallas feeding the homeless, and in McKinney taking groceries and having conversations with people. I feel like getting out and exploring your interests can create more of a buy-in in wanting to return and continue to volunteer.”
Events such as tournaments and running races are largely made possible because of the volunteers who help with several roles that are often much more significant than one might think. Anyone interested in volunteer opportunities at local events can reach out to Merrick via email or Instagram. Merrick said she absolutely thinks that more people should volunteer on a consistent basis, especially when doing so benefits a nonprofit organization.
“Volunteering is an excellent way to connect with others who share similar interests,” she said, “and to contribute positively to a cause greater than oneself."
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NatNews staff members and some dear readers enjoyed celebrating running accomplishments and friendship Saturday morning