• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

MarionMade

People, Places, Products, Programs

Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On YoutubeCheck Our FeedVisit Us On Instagram
We Are Generous!We Are Presidential!We Are Having Fun!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
    • MarionMade! 5k Sign Up
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Volunteering in Marion County

By MarionMade! on December 10, 2019

In 2017, Marion Ohio participated in a county-wide reading event choosing the book, “This Is Where You Belong-The Art and Science of Loving the Place You Live” by Melody Warnick.  Many of the principles shared in the book are core values for the MarionMade! program, with volunteering in the community being one.

Last year MarionMade! tried an interesting experiment to find out how many people volunteered in our community and the number of hours of service they gave.  This first-time effort had approximately 25 organizations reporting their hours.  From just those 25 groups almost 1000 people gave over 134,000 hours. Based on the estimated nation value of volunteer hours of $25.43 per hour, these volunteers gave over $3,000,000 of their time and talents to the Marion community.

Volunteers from the Marion County Historical Society

But not all organizations and groups reported their hours.  These groups could include schools, churches, nonprofits, businesses or any group or individual that donated their time and talent to help any effort in the county.  MarionMade! would like to do better this year.  If any organization, business, school, etc. in Marion County had volunteers MarionMade! would like those numbers.  They can be sent by email at info@marionmade.org, phone at 740.386.4215 or by Facebook.  Send the total number of volunteers, and the total number of hours given by the group for the 2019 calendar year.  For example in 2018, OhioHealth had 214 volunteers that gave 24,149 hours.

Why is volunteering important to Marion?  Here are examples from the Marion County Historical Society and the Marion Palace Theatre.   Brandi Wilson, director of the Marion County Historical Society shared, “Volunteers play a vital role in the operations of the historical society. I am not sure how we would keep our doors open without their hard work and dedication. Our volunteers help maintain the building and grounds, set exhibits, operate the gift shop, lead tours, work in the archive department, help with historic research and participate in reenactments. I hope that our volunteers always feel welcome, I appreciate each and every one of them and the time they gift us is priceless.”

The Marion Palace Theatre talked about one of their volunteers- Carol McWilliams, who has volunteered since 2013. “Carol can usually be found helping Palace patrons purchase movie tickets and concessions with a big friendly smile on her face. Carol is a wonderful & dependable asset to our volunteer team.”  Without efforts of Carol and the whole team of volunteers, the Palace would find it impossible to put on the large number of shows and programs each year.  The hours of effort given to put on just the Christmas at the Palace’s three days of performances is huge and would be impossible without volunteers.Carol McWilliams

Volunteering has an impact on Marion long after the time is given. Whether it’s the money the organizations save by the hours’ volunteers dedicate, the partnerships that bring groups together, or the much-needed services volunteers provide, volunteering in our community has a measurable impact.

Beyond improving the community, it is proven to help those individuals that give their time.  People learn more about the place where they live.  It can help with job skills and career goals.  It also can improve individuals’ health, mentally and physically.   Researchers at the London School of Economics looked at the relationship between volunteering and measures of happiness in a large group of American adults.  They found the more people volunteered, the happier they were, according to a study in Social Science and Medicine. Compared with people who never volunteered, the odds of being “very happy” rose 7% for those who volunteer monthly, 12% for people who volunteer every two to four weeks and 16% for weekly volunteers.

MarionMade! will gather volunteer hours through the end of February 2020 for the 2019 calendar year.  In April, National Volunteer Month, it will share the totals and feature different groups that share their information on MarionMade!’s social media.

Volunteering is just another way to show the pride we have in our community.  It is possible to do amazing things when people take the time to give back to the community and they will thrive as well.

Recent MarionMade! Stories

  • Daddy’s Barn Pickins: A Labor of Love

    The Puckett family of Waldo loved looking for antiques and other treasurers in attics, barns, and homes. “They always went picking as a side hustle,” said Paula Getter, daughter of Paul and Nada Puckett. “They set up at the Marion flea market for years. They had the whole back room.” The couple was married for […]Read More »
  • Jerrod Slater

    Harding High School has a new head football coach, and he’s making history. Jerrod Slater, head football coach, and graduate of Marion Harding High School, is the school’s first African American head coach. Slater’s love for football started when he was in second grade.  A former standout running back and nose guard for the Presidents, […]Read More »
  • Jim Thorpe

    The Greatest Athlete in the World He was called the “greatest athlete of the first half of the 20th century.” The King of Sweden went further, calling him “the greatest athlete in the world.” One of the most accomplished all-around athletes in history, Jim Thorpe had a strong tie to Marion County.  For a brief period–two […]Read More »
  • OhioHealth

    OHIO HEALTH. . In 2016, OhioHealth Marion Area Physicians (MAP), part of OhioHealth Physician Group, recruited new physicians for primary care, neurology, oncology, interventional cardiology, general surgery, urology, and psychiatry. Marion Area Physicians is made up of nearly 100 providers who provide primary and specialty care in Marion and surrounding counties. These physicians and advanced […]Read More »

Share Your MarionMade! Story

Click Here to share your story about MarionMade! people, places, products, and programs!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Downtown Marion Love INC Marion Public Library Marion Area Chamber of Commerce Marion CANDO! Marion Community Foundation United Way of Marion County Marion Technical College

© 2025 · MarionMade! is a community initiative led by Marion Technical College · Website is powered by Neighborhood Image