Staff and volunteers at the 2024 Volunteer Appreciation Event.

Legacy staff and volunteers joined again this fall for our annual Volunteer Appreciation Event celebrating the dedication and impact of all those who donate their time to Legacy. Gathered in Zou Zou’s cafe surrounded by the delicious aroma of pastries, sandwiches, and coffee, the group bonded over volunteering experiences and stories.

For some volunteers, this was their first appreciation event and for others, it was their eighteenth! From photomonitoring and eco-stewardship, to administrative work and legal aid, volunteers from every skillset celebrated their hard work and each other.

Legacy’s executive director Diana Kern wrapped up the evening recapping all the work done by volunteers this year and thanked them for their commitment. She spoke for all of the staff when she said, “To each and every one of you here with us this evening: Thank you for another wonderful year of protecting southern Michigan. Your support and the time you spend helping advance our mission is so impactful. We’re extremely grateful to be supported by such a dedicated, fun-loving, and passionate community like the one in this café tonight.”

In one year:

• 165 volunteers donated 2,521 hours– worth about $84,428!
• 106 people volunteered for the first time!
• 23 photomonitors completed 237 hours of monitoring and traversed over 7,350 acres of land!
• 1,611 pounds of herbaceous invasive species were removed from our nature preserves. That’s around 187 gallons of milk, 650,000 jelly beans, or 3,100 Big Macs!

Thank you to all our volunteers! Our work is not possible without YOU!

A special thank you to:

• Marie Ann Fody and all of the wonderful staff at Zou Zou’s cafe for providing a wonderful atmosphere and delicious food.
• Underground Printing for our volunteer t-shirts

If you feel inspired to join us and become a volunteer, reach out to Hannah at [email protected]