Volunteers keep Georgia state parks running
The recession has hit some state governments hard with many making cuts across the board. That's the case in Georgia, where deep budget cuts threatened to close many of the state's 48 state parks. But volunteers - like campground hosts and historic site hosts - have been able to pitch in and help keep the parks maintained and operating despite the financial cuts.
"There's no telling how much it saves us," the manager of Georgia's Hofwyl-Broadfield state park told Jacksonville.com. "We try to utilize any particular skills. We had a carpenter last year who built a shed. An electrician ran wiring for us."
Many of these volunteers are full-time or retired RVers who spend months at a time at a particular park to lend a hand. They do everything from general maintenance to cleaning and running visitor's centers. In return, they get a free campsite and a lot of pride.
"I work harder here than I did at work," said retired mechanic and volunteer Elmer Brewton. "It's really enjoyable, and these are great guys to work with."
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