Blog @ the Nelson-Atkins

This week, we take time to honor our volunteers. The Museum has 650 volunteers who do everything from working with the public to filing and research. In 2007, volunteers provided more than 40,000 hours of service to the Museum. That is the equivalent of almost 20 full-time employees.

For the week, we have asked our volunteers to share some of their stories about what being a volunteer means to them, why they do it, what they like the best, etc. Today's story is from Alice Kenney who has been a volunteer since June 2007. Here's her story:

"I was working at the Visitor's Information Desk in Kirkwood Hall one Friday and a young man approached and asked where the Impressionist art was located. I showed him on the map where to find those works of art. About an hour later he returned to thank me and to tell me that he was there that day to get in touch with his "softer" side - that he was leaving for a second tour of duty in Iraq early the next morning and knew that his "softer" side would have to be put on hold for awhile; he wasn't eager to return but knew his patriotism and faith were strong and would carry him through those difficult times.

"I thanked him for coming in, wished him well, and told him he would be in my prayers and to please come back in when he returned. Though I don't know his name, I will always remember his face and our conversation. People visit our wonderful museum for various reasons...who would have thought of it as a way to reinforce a love of art and the peace it can give us to help brace for certain difficulties and challenges in the future?"

Thank you, Alice, for sharing your story. There are plenty of opportunities for volunteering at the Museum. A knowledge of art is not required.