April is Volunteer Appreciation Month! Volunteers are the mainstay of any local program, and each one is locally driven by caring, concerned people. Most times, the volunteer base is pulled from the local community. Sometimes help can come from outside your local area – and maybe, if you are one of the lucky ones, your State Main Street coordinator and staff will help out when needed!

One of the key components of any successful program is having a robust Volunteer and Leadership Development program. Oklahoma Main Street Director, Buffy Hughes, not only directs the statewide program, leads both the Design Point and the Organization Point, and teaches the local programs how to recruit and retain volunteers, but she also walks the walk and volunteers for many programs across the state!

She, along with her husband Keith (who she always jokes is more voluntold than volunteer), do their part to help local programs to thrive. They have volunteered with:

• Stockyards City Main Street’s Stockyard Stampede
• Historic Greenwood District Main Street’s first ever event – Christmas in Greenwood
• Sapulpa Main Street’s Route 66 Blowout Car Show and Festival, and
• Yukon Main Street’s Cruisin’ for a Cause

And many other events! She has plans to continue her volunteering ways this year and beyond. And her support matters to the local programs.

“Buffy and Keith have readily and graciously volunteered all three years that we have held this event,” said Vicki Davis, Yukon 66 Main Street Executive Director. “Her dedication to our Main Street program throughout our start-up stages as an associate community has meant so much and provided validation to our efforts. Buffy is no stranger to our members and community. She and Keith have been calming yet enthusiastic support for our event, regardless of the challenges from scorching temps, high winds, COVID distancing and safety measures, and even a mid-event gully-washer. Buffy is always eager to jump in wherever she can and by the way, this lady rocks a t-shirt booth and has sold us out every time.”

Volunteers matter in Main Street, and we are proud to count our Oklahoma director among our nationwide roster of amazing volunteers!