I have been volunteering for Hastings & Rother YMCA for 40 years this year and have loved every minute of it. Our small team of staff and volunteers handcraft the gorgeous roller boots and the large crown that sits atop it. It took months of their free time. Our enthusiastic youngsters then spent several weeks tying their colorful t-shirts to wear on the day.
We had around 100 young people and families from our community come out on the day to support and fundraise along the way.
I can’t speak for all the wonderful volunteers who put on so many well-loved community events throughout the year, but if we want to do something, the planning and work takes all year!
Then the criticism starts, it’s not enough, do better, it was great in our time, poor show.
All I can say in defense of the carnival committee is that they put in the work, they trampled and gave their time freely, they realized that all the big shops in Hastings have gone and they know that the smaller ones are still fight to get out of Covid, but they still got a parade out!
Maybe Diane can be persuaded to bring her skills and those of ‘all the Senior Citizens’ to create the parade they want.
