With only a staff of ten, Good Neighbor Community Center relies on volunteers to serve the community through its many programs. Lisa Ross, the Director of Community Affairs for the center, says “Volunteers have a huge impact on our daily operations. With such a small staff we depend highly upon their support to ensure that things run smoothly. Our doors are open to everyone and we couldn’t do what we do without the support of not only the community but our volunteers!”

Good Neighbor Center provides free vital services and program to anyone in need in Lancaster County. One of those services is food distribution. Six days every week, the center distributes food to community members with the help of volunteers, and in partnership with other local partners. Three of those six days include perishable food items which must be sorted and organized prior to distribution, which takes a significant amount of time. Without volunteers, Lisa says, this can delay the distribution and cause long lines.

“Ending my day knowing that a family is able to cook a healthy meal, or that a client will fall asleep warm after receiving a quilt, or that one of our refugee clients is learning English and on their way to becoming a U.S. citizen, all of this is indescribable,” Lisa says. “Many days I feel as though I have learned more from our clients than the other way around. The experience is irreplaceable.”

Volunteers make it possible for Lisa and other staff to spend more time providing case management to clients, participating in community coalitions or taking professional training courses.

Lisa frequently posts her volunteer opportunities on volunteerLNK.org, including daily operation needs and the center’s annual fundraiser. With the ability to describe volunteer opportunities in detail, potential volunteers can choose what fits their availability and area of interest.

Before volunteerLNK.org, recruiting volunteers was much more time consuming for Lisa, requiring visits to other organizations and time planning recruitment marketing. Now, Lisa posts to one website for the entire community.

“VolunteerLNK.org has been such a huge benefit for our center, allowing me to reach a much larger audience. Since becoming active on volunteerLNK.org our repeat volunteers have increased as well as volunteer group such as school clubs and local businesses.”

Those interested in starting or continuing their volunteering journeys are encouraged to find their next opportunity on volunteerLNK.org, which serves as a hub for volunteerism for all of Lancaster County. The platform, operated by United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County with support from Lincoln Community Foundation, simplifies the process of finding meaningful volunteer opportunities, and is tailored to each user’s unique interests, skills, and availability. Volunteer opportunities can be filled by individuals, families, church groups, high school and college students, and retirees. The site also offers options for companies to get involved together.

“There is no amount of time shared that is too short,” says Lisa. “A half hour can make a huge impact and your time is valued and appreciated! You are investing in your community.”

National Volunteer Week starts April 19, 2026. Many Lincoln organizations are participating by posting their volunteer opportunities during the week and beyond. Readers are encouraged to visit volunteerLNK.org to find an opportunity that fits their skills and interests to help build a stronger Lincoln for everyone!

Additionally, all eligible organizations are encouraged to post their volunteer opportunities on volunteerLNK.org and start recruiting volunteers. Signing up your organization is a simple two-step process. All eligibility information can be found on volunteerLNK.org.

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