By Patrick Brenner, Apache Junction Public Information Officer (PIO)

The spirit of volunteering is alive and well in Apache Junction well known as the “Home of the Superstitions.” In calendar year 2012 volunteers from the community assisted with many city departments and many served as members of city boards and commissions. Last year saw 1,407 community members volunteer a total of 38,073 hours with a contributed monetary value of $ 813,239.

Services utilizing volunteers include the Library, Parks and Recreation, Human Resources, Public Works and Public Safety. These included helping hands at Paws and Claws Animal Care Center, Investigations and Victim’s Assistance. Adopt-A-Highway folks helped keep public roads neat and tidy.

Perhaps most noteworthy, currently 34  Citizen Leadership Institute graduates now volunteer their time on city boards and commissions with 67 percent of all board members who volunteer, having graduated from the CLI.