Geared Up & Grateful: Honoring the Contributions of Our Volunteers

Volunteers sit together during a Geared Up Gathering appreciation event celebrating service and community connection.

Volunteers give their time, compassion, and energy to strengthen communities every day — and Geared Up Gatherings were created to celebrate the incredible impact they make. Hosted across Pasco, Pinellas, and Hillsborough counties, these events brought together volunteers, nonprofit partners, and community leaders for a joyful time of appreciation, connection, and gratitude. More than a celebration, the gatherings reminded volunteers just how valued they are and how deeply their service changes lives.

Volunteers deserve ongoing appreciation and recognition for the hard work and selfless time they dedicate to serving individuals in our community. Our brand new Geared Up Gatherings celebrate the impact our volunteers make to help others. These events hosted throughout Pasco, Pinellas, and Hillsborough honored Seniors in Service volunteers as well as those from our community partners, who enjoyed good food, music, awards, laughter, and raffle prizes.

Geared Up Gatherings help volunteers feel valued and also foster a sense of camaraderie. By bringing together volunteers from different organizations and backgrounds, volunteers have the opportunity to connect, share experiences, and build relationships with others who share a common purpose.

Seniors in Service Board Member and CARES CEO Jemith Rosa expressed her gratitude to volunteers in Pasco County: “We appreciate your conviction and dedication to serving our community because you make a difference one person at a time. Remember your purpose, you volunteer because you care.”

Thank you to our event sponsors TECO and WellMed and our nonprofit partners who joined the Geared Up Gatherings, including United Way of Pasco County, Area Agency on Aging Pasco-Pinellas, Florida Guardian ad Litem and Seniors vs. Crime. Together, we showed our volunteers how very much they are valued.