Piggott, 2007 Arkansas volunteer community of the year

On any given day there are dozens of Piggott-area residents volunteering their time and efforts. And that work has not gone un-noticed, as the city is once again being honored as an Arkansas Volunteer Community of the Year for 2007.

"Without the volunteers of our community a lot of things just wouldn't get done," Mayor Gerald Morris noted in talking about the honor. This Thursday Morris will join other city leaders in accepting the award at the Arkansas Municipal League's Winter Conference in Little Rock.

Twelve communities across the state were chosen to receive recognition for their volunteer efforts including Piggott, Caraway, Clarkridge, Dumas, El Dorado, Fort Smith, Heber Springs, Maumelle, Mt. Home, North Little Rock, Texarkana and Van Buren. Of the twelve communities all but Caraway have been honored previously for volunteerism.

The awards are sponsored each year by the Governor's office, the Arkansas Municipal League and the Division of Volunteerism of the Arkansas Department of Human Services. The effort is also supported by the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department as they provide signs announcing the Volunteer Community of the Year designation.

"Although a small community, Piggott has a surprisingly large number of volunteer organizations and volunteers. Over one thousand volunteers donate over 80,000 volunteer hours a year to the betterment of Piggott." noted Duane Dutka, director of the Clay County office of Human Services, who authored the local application.

In Morris's support letter to the nomination, he added, "It is with great anticipation that I write this letter because we have a tremendous amount of volunteering here in Piggott. If it were not for a great number of people who volunteer their time and expertise, our city would not be what it is today."

In addition, the city, and its volunteer programs, will be the subject of an upcoming feature article in City and Town Magazine, which is published by the Arkansas Municipal League.