A glorious spring afternoon is cause enough to lift anyone's spirits. But inside the Community Room at the Capital Mall on Friday, volunteerism was the reason for the celebration.
Brenda Doyle, director of senior services for Cole Country, organized a party to honor and thank the volunteers of Cole County for their service to dozens of organizations in the community, like St. Mary's Health Center, Capital Region Medical Center, Meals on Wheels and Heisinger Bluffs Auxiliary.
After signing a poster with their name and volunteer organization, attendees like Martha Russell and Shirley Birdsong took to the dance floor to cut a rug to the sounds of Starlight Memories Band with Mike Eveler, who donated his and his band mates' time for the event.
Stan and Teresa Neuner, who volunteer at the local Amtrak station and at St. Joseph Cathedral, can't get enough of dancing. As part of the Let's Dance Club with Kapital Kicks, they planned to attend the dancing session at the Capital Ritz and then that evening would be at the American Legion.
Dave Cundiff and Braxie Huff, also regulars at most of the dancing nights in town, took to the dance floor in the Community Room to do the country western two-step and they also participated in the line dances, too. Martha Russell and Shirley Birdsong also spent time on the dance floor along with Doyle and a group of other women enjoying the afternoon.
"We've had a lot of people coming and going, and just relaxing and having a good time," said Doyle, who plans to display the posters with the volunteer signatures in the Senior Center at the Capital Mall.