Clinton County Commissioners Recognize AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP for National Volunteer Week
By Emily Wright
LOCK HAVEN— The Clinton County Commissioners have officially proclaimed April 20–26, 2025, as National Volunteer Week, recognizing the vital contributions of AmeriCorps Seniors and local volunteers who dedicate their time to serving and improving the county.
The proclamation, read aloud by Commissioner Angela Harding at Thursday’s commissioners’ meeting, acknowledged AmeriCorps for more than 30 years of creating service opportunities that strengthen local communities, expand educational opportunities, and foster civic participation. “AmeriCorps seniors programs provide opportunities for 143,000 Americans annually to serve their country through service at nonprofits, schools, public agencies and community and faith-based organizations across the country,” the proclamation stated, “AmeriCorps Seniors is America’s smart investment in local communities, where public dollars leverage private contributions to support locally led, data-driven solutions to urgent needs.”
Kathy Ballet, program coordinator for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) in Clinton County, thanked the commissioners and highlighted the broad impact of volunteers across five counties, including Clinton. She noted that Diakon Community Services sponsors the program, which focuses on the environment in our communities, stating, “The primary focus of our program is environmental stewardship, with the goal of caring for the natural environment by maintaining local gardens, parks, trails, and streams. Our volunteers also serve the community in additional capacities, including tutoring adult learners with the Central Intermediate Unit 10, assisting the Beech Creek-Marsh Creek Heritage Museum, Veteran’s Affairs Office, and county maintenance office, as well as helping with a variety of other impactful community endeavors.” Ballet also highlighted that the program aims to soon collaborate with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank to provide monthly food deliveries to homebound seniors.
Another volunteer, Paula Bell, shared her personal experience of finding fulfillment and a new purpose in retirement by maintaining local gardens and helping local museums with historic preservation projects. “Just speaking from the perspective of a volunteer, after working for 43 years in corporate America and then higher education, I wanted to do something that didn’t involve what I had been doing for 43 years,” she shared.
Bell recalled starting her volunteer work with the Clinton County Conservation District in 2022, during a period of severe drought, when she helped water the vegetable garden. It was through this involvement that she was introduced to AmeriCorps RSVP. In the years that followed, she officially joined AmeriCorps RSVP and continued caring for both the vegetable and pollinator gardens at the conservation district. She also contributed to the Beech Creek/Marsh Creek Watershed Heritage Museum, editing video interviews of former Beech Creek Elementary School students. Additionally, Bell and a group of five or six other volunteers worked on restoring the gardens at Triangle Park and Roads to Peace (Clinton County Women’s Center, Inc.). She believed that maintaining an attractive exterior would offer a more positive impression to clients seeking assistance at the women’s center. She encouraged others to volunteer, emphasizing that it’s an opportunity to make a difference, feel better about oneself, and meet new people.
Todd Warner, director of the Clinton County Veterans Affairs Office, also attended the meeting and commended AmeriCorps senior volunteers Angela Black and Elsa Winch for their outstanding support of local veterans. Their contributions include participating in programs like Military Share and providing essential administrative help in the office. “When you come into our office or you answer the phone in our office, you don’t know who may walk in the door or who or what might be on the other end of a phone call. And with that said, they’ve been absolutely terrific, invaluable to us,” Warner said.
Warner went on to highlight the crucial role Black and Winch have played in handling various tasks, such as drafting letters, assisting families of veterans who have passed away in obtaining county benefits, and managing a temporary food pantry after receiving a large food donation from the Boy Scouts. They have also expertly cataloged thousands of food items and screened incoming phone calls, demonstrating both urgency and compassion. “They handle sad calls, and they have tremendous awareness of human needs,” Warner said. “They’re all about keeping everything accurate and taking care of veterans and their families. [We] couldn’t ask for two more compassionate people to do what they do.”
The commissioners urged residents to express their gratitude to AmeriCorps Senior volunteers and encouraged anyone interested in getting involved to explore available volunteer opportunities. For more information about volunteering, visit www.diakon.org/community-services/rsvp/ or contact Cathy Ballat, AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Program Coordinator for Clinton County, at 570-419-5941 or BallatC@diakon.org.
