In our busy lives, nothing is more valuable than time. It follows that volunteers-people who choose to give their time to make this a better community-are very valuable indeed.

Fewer than one-third of adults give their time through volunteer work, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service. That makes it especially important that the efforts of those who do donate their time and energy are recognized during National Volunteer Week April 15-21.

People are often shocked to learn that a full 96 percent of the national American Red Cross workforce is made up of volunteers. Locally, 950 of your neighbors volunteer through the American Red Cross in Nassau County-all of them working to make each of us safer.

Our volunteers respond to local disasters, such as house fires; many volunteer to go across the state or across the nation if needed. They teach people lifesaving skills such as water safety, first aid, CPR, babysitting and disaster preparedness. They help local military families exchange emergency messages with their loved ones and serve on our local board.

Volunteers answer the phone at our chapter, clean the manikins we use in our CPR training, plan our fundraising events and help with clerical work.

We want to thank our volunteers, as well as the volunteers of so many other organizations here in Nassau County. It is hard to imagine what kind of community we would have without you and the services you provide.

Frank Cassano is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross in Nassau County.