Eagan's pride was on full display last week as the city's tireless volunteers were celebrated in grand style, with a dinner held at the Eagan Community Center on April 11th. Mayor Mike Maguire and city leaders gathered to applaud the collective efforts of over 550 individuals who've selflessly dedicated their time, averaging nearly 13 hours per person, to various city endeavors in 2023.
The appreciation dinner not only served as a thank you, but Mayor Maguire also provided some impressive numbers, with volunteers clocking in over 7,500 hours last year, which translates into a staggering $250,000 in community benefit, thus proving that the volunteer spirit is a fund of unremitting value to the city. According to a statement released by the city, these intrepid souls have spread their influence across various sectors, be it joining the 50+ Senior Group, contributing artistic flair at the Eagan Art House, or reinforcing the roots of their local history through the Friends of the Farm, preschool programs and communitywide events among the legion opportunities.
In his address, Maguire emphasized the choices each community member makes in where they channel their energies and the impact of those choices, further stating, “volunteering as a board member or commissioner or giving your time to make Eagan a great place to live, work and play!” He shone a light on two distinct pillars of the community – Peter Dugan and Jeff Spartz, who have both crowned a decade of relentless service on their advisory commissions. Recognition was also directed to 'Access to Democracy', a local ETV show, that entered its 25th year of community service in 2024 after surpassing 10,000 volunteer hours the previous year.
The sentiments expressed by Mayor Maguire during the dinner underscored the role volunteers play in weaving the rich social fabric of Eagan, where service is not sporadic, but engrained in the identity of the townspeople, and he concluded with a reminder that the volunteers are a crucial pillar in Eagan's success – "a big part of who we are", as they hold the community together. For those looking to roll up their sleeves and dive into community service, a breadth of volunteering opportunities awaits discovery at Eagan's official website.
