The City of Merritt and the Community Policing Office gave back to the people who give back to the community with a volunteer appreciation tea on Wednesday at the Merritt Civic Centre.

About 60 people gathered for the fifth annual appreciation tea.

Community Policing Co-ordinator Const. Tracy Dunsmore was the emcee for the event. Volunteers were given certificates of appreciation and shown a slideshow of themselves in action.

The children’s choir was invited to entertain the crowd and local artist Meriel Barber did some drumming for the crowd as well.

Merritt Mayor Susan Roline told the crowd the city is thankful to its volunteers for all the work they do in the community.

“I don’t believe our community would be the same without the volunteer effort that goes into it,” Roline said.

RCMP Sgt. Norm Flemming made a speech on behalf of the RCMP to thank those who volunteer as auxiliary constables, Citizens on Patrol and members of the Speed Watch program.

Flemming thanked the volunteers on behalf of the entire RCMP – not limited to Merritt.

“There is not much that we can accomplish without the great work of the volunteers that we have within our organization,” Flemming said.

RCMP Auxiliary Co-ordinator Const. Brock Hedrick presented auxiliary Const. Harbinder Hara with a certificate of appreciation as well as a commemorative pin for 15 years of service as an auxiliary officer in Merritt.

“The auxiliary constables really are the ultimate volunteer. They’re out there doing the same job as a regular member, but they’re not being paid,” Hedrick said.

Roline told the Herald volunteers save the city a lot of money in the long run.

“It helps having all those volunteers work for us,” Roline said.

She said gratitude is also due to other volunteers in Merritt as well.

“It’s not just the city committees and the Community Policing Office volunteers, it’s also the broader community too,” Roline said. “Without those people volunteering and giving freely of their time, our community would not be the same. It would be totally different.”

Coun. Dave Baker said the evening is a way to say thank you.

“It’s just a small way for us to say thank you for all the volunteers and all the volunteer hours that go in every year,” Baker said.