Showing Up for Community:The Power of Volunteerism Across Centre County

This National Volunteer Month, Volunteer Centre County is doing what it has long done best by bringing the right people together to meet real community needs. As part of National Volunteer Week, April 19–25, 2026, the organization recently matched Centre Foundation staff with Snow Shoe EMS for an upcoming volunteer project to paint a community room used by EMS volunteers who serve one of Centre County’s most rural regions.

“Volunteering is one of the most powerful ways people can directly shape the strength of their community,” said Ann Echols, Executive Director of Volunteer Centre County. “When we connect individuals and organizations in ways that are thoughtful and intentional, it creates impact that lasts well beyond a single day of service.”

That kind of connection matters. Across the U.S., more than 60 million people volunteer each year through efforts tracked by AmeriCorps’s Volunteering and Civic Life in America research, contributing billions of hours of service. In Pennsylvania alone, volunteers provide an estimated value of more than $6 billion annually, according to Independent Sector. Nationally, the value of a single volunteer hour exceeds $30, further underscoring the measurable impact of volunteer time across communities.

While hyper-local data for Centre County varies, the impact is clear. Nonprofits rely on volunteers not just to extend their reach, but to make their work possible.

For rural organizations like Snow Shoe EMS, support often comes down to having the time, space, and resources to keep volunteers engaged and ready to respond. Community rooms like this are not just aesthetic upgrades. They are used for training, coordination, and as a gathering space for volunteers who cover large geographic areas with limited staffing.

By helping improve that space, this volunteer project highlights how even a single day of service can support the day-to-day environment nonprofits rely on to do their work.

Just as important, not every volunteer opportunity requires an ongoing commitment. Many individuals and groups are looking for ways to give back in ways that fit their schedules, whether that means a single day of service, occasional participation or more frequent volunteering throughout the year. Volunteer Centre County continues to see growing interest from student groups, professionals, and families, including youth looking for summer opportunities, who are eager to contribute in meaningful but flexible ways.

By working with nonprofits to identify both short-term and ongoing needs, Volunteer Centre County makes it easier for people to step in where help is needed most. One-day projects, group opportunities, youth-friendly roles, and even court-referred community service all play an important role in supporting local organizations. In addition to volunteer roles, the organization also helps connect the community to other needs such as donated goods, job openings, and upcoming events and fundraisers.

“Behind nearly every nonprofit is a group of people who choose to give their time and energy to something bigger than themselves,” said David Lieb, President and CEO of Centre Foundation. “That kind of commitment expands what is possible for communities.”

As Volunteer Centre County continues to evolve, its role is expanding alongside community needs. In addition to connecting volunteers with meaningful opportunities, the organization is now helping individuals explore pathways to employment, recognizing that strong communities are built not only through service, but through access to meaningful work. Through its new Who’s Hiring portal, the organization is helping match job seekers with local employers, and open positions close to home.

It is a natural extension of their mission, helping people find where they fit, whether through volunteering, a career opportunity, or both. Because in Centre County, the future is shaped not just by what people give, but by how they choose to show up.