Some groups, like United Way of Blair County and UPMC Altoona, have had to reduce their programs at times for the past few years and are now seeking more volunteers to help them build back up.

“We’re open for business as far as volunteering goes,” said Michelle Walters, manager of volunteer services at UPMC Altoona. “We have 77 volunteers now, which is a decline from pre-COVID, but I think it’s a proud number.”

Only about a quarter of Pennsylvanians volunteered in 2021, according to a survey by the AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation. That is down over 10% from 2019, when 35.8% of Pennsylvanians volunteered during that year.

Local volunteering organizations said this was in large part due to the pandemic, when people were hesitant to interact with others or programs were shut down.

UPMC Altoona volunteer Ashley Caldwell of Juniata opens a wheelchair for a patient. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Dorcey Cuzzolina, project coordinator at Retired and Senior Volunteer Programs of Blair and Huntingdon Counties, said some hospitals and nursing homes paused their volunteer programs to protect residents from COVID-19.

“It also hurt the volunteers because that was their life,” Cuzzolina said. “All of a sudden they couldn’t do anything and that was very isolating.”

While some programs like meal deliveries and phone buddy systems continued through the pandemic, others are finally returning. RSVP, sponsored by the Center for Community Action based in Everett, helps pair scores of volunteers aged 55 and over with volunteer work in Blair and Huntingdon counties.

AmeriCorps Seniors in the RSVP program work with community partners like Blair Senior Services Inc. and Meals on Wheels, as well serving as companions to children or other seniors through RSVP’s own programs. Cuzzolina said that since seniors are used to working full-time jobs, they are interested in staying busy after retirement with volunteer work.

“A lot of folks could not wait to come back,” Cuzzolina said. “There’s a great deal of fulfillment with volunteering.”

UPMC Altoona volunteer Freddy Marchitelli of Altoona pushes a cart through the hospital lobby. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Recovery is slow

Recovery from the pandemic has been slow, according to Matt Uhler, executive director of United Way of Blair County. The organization supports local nonprofits and services through a financial campaign and a network of over 650 volunteers.

“Our programs have shrunk, as has our community support,” Uhler said.

The director said the needs of the community have shifted as people adjust to life after the pandemic, and United Way is working with its partners and volunteers to cover those areas.

Imani Vaughn is an AmeriCorps member who works with United Way, and said volunteers are vital to local organizations. She said during her five months of volunteering, she has been impressed by the group’s volunteer projects and gained invaluable experience.

Volunteer Pauline Bowers of Altoona takes items from a shelf to fill an order at the Altoona Food Bank. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

“It’s been nice to see how things have progressed in the last few months,” Vaughn said.

She said the number of local volunteers took a hit from the pandemic, but those that are involved are very motivated to help the community and turn out for many events.

Uhler said that while United Way is still seeing effects from the pandemic, the organization works to educate its volunteers about community needs, which keeps them coming back from project to project.

“There’s still people who want to do it, but some are more hesitant now,” Vaughn said. “The amount of people that are very generous with their donations is amazing.”

United Way hosts a number of service projects throughout the year, including Toasty Toddler, which provides free winter clothing to area children, and the Glass Slipper Project, which collects prom dresses to be distributed to students in need.

Volunteer Ruth McKinney of Altoona empties a box of tea at the Altoona Food Bank. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Vaughn said she has seen people turn out more for services that directly benefit families in the community, as they want to help others in their hometown. The Altoona native said that is a large part of why she chose to volunteer after graduating college.

“It’s nice to be able to give back to a community that once gave so much to me and my family,” Vaughn said.

Cuzzolina said volunteer engagement is growing again at RSVP, with about 80 volunteers working with Blair County community partners like the Altoona Food Bank. She said human services usually rely heavily on volunteers, as they tend to have lower budgets for staffing.

“Volunteers really are a backbone to many human service organizations,” Cuzzolina said.

RSVP is always looking for more volunteers through the AmeriCorps Senior program, where members are paired with organizations based on their skills and interests. Cuzzolina encouraged more people to get involved with volunteering, as it is beneficial to the well-being of the community, and also to that of the volunteer. She said volunteers can see physical and mental health benefits from working in their community, especially as they age.

“It’s across the board,” she said. “People who can and do volunteer live happier and healthier lives.”

Positive power

At UPMC, Walters said volunteers have been returning slowly since 2021, but now hears requests for volunteer opportunities almost daily. She said the volunteers are an essential part of the hospital not just for daily operations, but also for the well-being of the patients and staff.

“They just have such a positive vibe to them,” Walters said. “It brings tremendous positive power to the building.”

Volunteers at UPMC Altoona range from age 16 up to 92, Walters said, which allows a vast range of roles to be covered by volunteers. She credited pastoral volunteers for making visits to the hospital less anxiety-

inducing by greeting patients and providing prayers or words of encouragement while they wait.

Walters said that for some of the older volunteers, work in the hospital is a social opportunity, and they keep themselves busy while “on the clock.”

“That’s getting them out of their house and giving them the ability to talk and laugh and socialize,” Walters said.

Outpatient help sought

She said UPMC Altoona is still seeking volunteers, especially at their outpatient facilities and the Station Medical Center. Volunteers receive an orientation and are matched with a role based on their interests and the hospital’s needs.

To keep volunteers engaged, Uhler from United Way of Blair County said it is important to educate them about the needs in their community. The organization is always looking to build new partnerships with nonprofits and local businesses, which provide more opportunity for volunteering, along with more ways to help those in need.

“Our hope is that volunteer engagement doesn’t start and end with one project,” Uhler said, “but that we inspire people to give back through other volunteer opportunities and as donors.”

United Way has also worked with Penn State Altoona for service projects in the past, and Uhler said it is exciting to see students engaged in volunteerism.

Penn State Altoona’s Student and Civic Engagement office provides year-round opportunities for young volunteers, which helps them develop leadership and life skills.

Since the pandemic, office manager Donna Pearlman said the office has shifted to a multi-layer approach to appeal to more students. This includes volunteer opportunities through community partnerships, like United Way, academic courses and college-hosted events like Voluntoona.

About 80 students recently participated in service projects at locations around the area including the Railroaders Memorial Museum and Mission Central HUB.

“Penn State students rely on and appreciate taxpayer support for their education,” Pearlman said. “Voluntoona is just a small way those students can give back to the community that already supports them.”

Mirror Staff Writer Linden Markley is at 814-946-7520.

Volunteers sought

Service organizations, while grateful for the support they have now, are constantly seeking more volunteers in order to expand their programs in the community. Some volunteer work can be completed in one day, such as clean up days at local parks, without formal training. Others require a short, usually free, training that allows volunteers to work inside hospitals, nursing homes or other organizations for a longer period of time.

Those interested in

volunteering for local groups should contact those listed below:

UPMC Volunteer Services — Call 814-889-2151 or email waltersmr2@upmc.edu

United Way of Blair

County — Call 814-317-5108 or visit uwblair.org

AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP — Call 1-800-942-2677 or visit americorps.gov/serve/americorps-seniors