Texarkana has always been a city with community spirit.
There are many charitable organizations that depend on the hard work of volunteers. Most couldn't survive without them.
Volunteers comes from all walks of life. They have a deep desire to help the community and their fellow residents, but then a lot of folks have that. Volunteers are special in that they actually make the time to follow through. They don't just think good thoughts or write checks, they give of themselves.
And they deserve recognition for it.
Each year in Arkansas, the state's Department of Human Services, the Arkansas Municipal League and the governor's office give out the Volunteer Community of the Year Awards.
Communities are judged on "the number of broad volunteer activities providing needed services to your community," the number of active volunteers and hours worked, unusual challenges that were met and handled and whether volunteer activities are innovative or long term service.
Nominations include a three-page statement of volunteer activities as well as supplemental material, such as photographs, letters of support and newspaper clippings.
This year Benton, Bentonville, Cherokee Village, Clarkridge, Fayetteville, Greenbrier, Heber Springs, Little Rock, Maumelle, McNeil, Mountain Home and Van Buren won the awards, which includes highway signs honoring each community.
So where is Texarkana?
We used to be a fixture on the list. We were one of the winners of the first award in 1982 and won every year until 1987. We didn't make the cut in 1988, but came back strong in 1989. We won again in 1994 and 1996 and made the list for the last time in 2007.
That's a long time.
We know Texarkana has as much community spirit as any town in Arkansas. And we think it's time our city and our volunteers again were celebrated.
Maybe you do, too. If so, now is the time to get cracking. Texarkana can win this again. And again.