Tales of Our Volunteer Heroes and Life-Changing Community Service Programs

Classroom Grandparents are gearing up to get back into the classrooms this fall! At Oak Grove Elementary’s Open House, Ms. Volpe couldn’t hide her smile or resist a hug when she reunited with Classroom Grandpa Givens. Proof that these volunteers are more than helpers;...

In the Classroom Grandma Maudelene is always smiling, and quietly working her magic with students who need a little extra help. Whether guiding a struggling reader or helping an English learner with new vocabulary, she’s become more than a volunteer, she’s family....

Sometimes, a volunteer becomes more than a helping hand, they become a lifeline. That’s what happened when Tia joined Ms. Vera through our Senior Companion Program in Pinellas County. For nearly two years, Tia has shown up with compassion, consistency, and heart as...

Shoutout to our very own Aria, Health Buddies Program Manager, who recently shared our mission with professionals from across the state at the Florida Conference on Aging! Aria took to the stage to share how Health Buddies is a simple yet powerful program, pairing...

Some people retire and slow down, but not Keith Smith. For this Navy veteran, retirement wasn’t the end of the road. It was the start of something extraordinary. More than 50 years after his service in Vietnam, Keith found a new mission: helping fellow veterans build...

Many seniors face a daily barrier: they need medical care but have no way to get there. Without transportation, essential appointments are missed, health declines, and isolation deepens. Thanks to a 3-year grant from the Community Foundation Tampa Bay, we've launched...

At Bayboro Brewing Co. in St. Petersburg, a night of laughter, bingo, and Golden Girls flair turned into something more, real help for local veterans. Thanks to ticket sales and donations, Golden Girls BINGO raised vital funds for Operation: Veteran Connect, which...

91 isolated seniors now have a new friend through TelePals, all thanks to a growing network of compassionate volunteers, including incredible team members from Suncoast Credit Union. At the heart of TelePals is something so simple, yet so powerful: consistent...

For more than five years, our Health Buddies program has paired trained volunteers with older adults living with chronic conditions, helping them stay socially connected, improve health outcomes, and reduce preventable hospital visits. Over time, we’ve seen a pattern...