National Park Service

Volunteers of The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission in Massachusetts and Rhode Island receive a ChemArt commemorative volunteer National Park Service medal in a special ceremony after they have 5 years of service. The volunteers are presented the medal on a red, white and blue lanyard or display it on an ornament stand. Suzanne Buchanan, Volunteer Coordinator, says, “I look at the ornament as an opportunity to recognize volunteers; it isn’t always for a tree.”

The Blackstone River Valley Corridor is a special type of national park. It is a partnership of two states, multiple municipalities, businesses, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and private citizens, all of whom wish to preserve and interpret the unique value of the Blackstone Valley. As the site of America’s first textile mill, this area is the “Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution.”

The commission has more than 175 volunteers who lead historic tours, guide nature walks, lead river paddlers along the many available waterways, or help keep the Blackstone River clean. “A very sweet volunteer opportunity,” according to Suzanne, is the 3-weekend maple sugaring event in which 1,700 people recently participated. Suzanne also mentioned National Volunteer Week, April 23rd- 29th, as an important time to communicate and thank her many volunteers, who are especially valuable as they enhance programs when funding cuts are made to educational and recreational programs.

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