As part of National Volunteer Week, April 18 through April 24, the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station will recognize all the committed volunteers who devote their time throughout the year towards making the Santa Clarita Valley a better and safer place to live.

In recognition of local individual achievements and as a demonstration of thanks and gratitude for the more than 170 volunteers that devote so much time and effort to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station and the community throughout the year, the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Foundation will host their annual luncheon event on Saturday, May 15 at the Macaroni Grill restaurant.

In addition, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will be honoring all volunteers from throughout the department on Saturday, April 24 at the Sheriff’s Training Academy and Regional Services (STARS) center in Whittier.

Station volunteers include sheriff explorers, patrol reserves, posse members, search and rescue and station clerical staff, just to name a few. Some of the volunteers individually dedicated more than 600 hours of their own time throughout the year, many times performing the same functions as full-time paid personnel. These volunteers tirelessly and selflessly give their time, day in and day out, all year long to help the residents of the Santa Clarita Valley.

In 2009, 177 Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station volunteers dedicated nearly 35,000 hours of service and saved the County of Los Angeles and the city of Santa Clarita more than $700,000.

“We are truly blessed to have such dedicated and devoted people who are willing to volunteer their own time to help others in the community,” said Captain Paul Becker of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. “It is amazing how much time these volunteers devote to us throughout the year. They perform many functions at our station and in the community. We will personally thank them at this recognition event, but they really deserve our thanks all year long,” concluded Becker.

For information on volunteer opportunities with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, contact Deputy Pat Rissler at (661) 799-5159 or visit the following link on the SCVSheriff.com website: SCV Sheriff Volunteers – Get Involved.