Together

In a typical year I drive across Pennsylvania at least four or five times on various trips, and as I’m ticking down the miles as I drive along the turnpike, I have time to notice the fields, mountains, forests and rivers that define the physical environment of our Commonwealth.

Volunteering can be an important tool for supporting community empowerment. With this aim, we can use our volunteer efforts in ways that help build the capacity of individuals and groups so they can more fully participate in the community.

Our communities are protected by volunteer fire companies, and we rely on our neighbors who give their time and effort to fight fires and respond to local emergencies. Large-scale emergencies capture our attention, like the recent fire at Martin’s Country Market in Ephrata, where over 40 fir…

Maisie Dorwart and her future service dog Cyprus are a familiar sight on the Temple University campus in Philadelphia. The 2019 Manheim Central High School graduate is studying at Temple for her master’s degree in speech pathology. She received Cyprus, a retriever mix, in October as an 8-wee…

Getting started can be hard. A few years ago, I wanted to get back into running, so I set some basic goals and thought I was on the path to success. After I had my first few training runs under my belt, I lost my momentum and I skipped some of my planned early morning runs. My bed was just t…

Do you use postage stamps? I have a very current story to tell, even though I’m embarrassed to tell it.

It’s the last day of the year and I am ready to look ahead to what 2024 has in store. This is the time of year many of us make New Year’s resolutions, looking to improve some part of our lives. If you make a resolution, you will be joining the about 40% of Americans who make a New Year’s res…

Volunteers are the lifeblood of many nonprofit organizations around Lancaster County. Right now, during the holiday season, volunteers are helping feed people, providing care to shelter visitors and giving gifts to individuals and families in need. Throughout the year, volunteers help run pr…

Food plays a central role in many holiday celebrations, and specific foods are deeply connected to our holidays. It might be hard to imagine a Thanksgiving meal without turkey or Christmas without cookies and special sweet treats.

Did you know that volunteering can be good for your health? We regularly see the benefits of volunteering in our community when people give their time and expertise, helping improve the lives of our neighbors. What we may not see so easily is that volunteering also helps improve the lives of…