A parade of nonprofit leaders has been quietly voicing concerns in recent weeks about the lack of community participation and involvement.

Last week, Brandi Hamon, vice president of the Rhododendron Festival, shared that she was concerned about the trickle of parade entries. She’s hopeful that it’s just one of those things that people have forgotten about until the last minute.

But just to be sure, the deadline to enter the parade has been extended to Friday, May 12.

Typically, there are more than 100 entries in the grand parade, this year happening on May 13; as of Monday, there were 50 entries, maybe a few more.

Hamon said this year feels a little different than the past few years that she’s volunteered for the festival, and she’s concerned.

“If you’re not involved, it’s not going to happen,” she said Monday.

Hamon wasn’t the only one softly reflecting on the slow going of community participation. No one wanted to use the word “apathy.”

Deb Steele, who not long ago helped organize the bus entourage to the Womxn’s March on Seattle, was worried about the sale of tickets to the Port Townsend Wearable Arts event this weekend, which benefits the Fund for Women and Girls. Ticket sales haven’t been what organizers had hoped they would be. Normally, at this time, the show is sold out.

And Hamon and Steele weren’t the only ones wondering what’s happening.

Another nonprofit leader, who didn’t want to be identified, said donations have been down since the 2016 presidential election. She said she used to go to the post office and pick up eight or more checks a day for her nonprofit. Now, there are one or two checks a day.

But it’s not just Port Townsend that’s having issues. Quilcene was on the verge of canceling its September Fair until recently, when new volunteers stepped forward to help.

It’s time to thank all those hard-working volunteers and show up to these amazing community events.

It’s time to take a few hours to join our friends and neighbors and watch them take the stage in those wild and beautiful outfits and help the Fund for Women and Girls.

It’s time to celebrate the community by racing beds down Washington Street, show up with wacky braids and funky beards, decorate our kids’ trikes and join in the parade, then eat free cake and later jog off the extra calories in the Rhody Run.

Don’t let the parades of opportunities to share community spirit pass you by.