“I always wondered why somebody didn’t do something about that. Then I realized that I was somebody”
— Lily Tomlin
Despite recent national notoriety, Centre County remains a pleasant and satisfying place to call home.
An outstanding example of what makes our community exceptional is the cooperation and collaboration shared by agencies providing human services. At Community Help Centre, we work closely with those agencies to meet the needs of our neighbors: housing, utilities, services for seniors, transportation, sanctuary, medical care — that’s just a partial list of the diverse support available in Centre County.
As public dollars for this support are reduced, individuals are asked for their financial contributions more and more, be it through their places of worship, Centre County United Way or Centre Foundation. Like dozens of other agencies, Community Help Centre could not sustain itself and its services without these philanthropic agencies and generous donors.
If you would like to help but financial contributions are not possible, almost every helping agency in Centre County has a means to accept volunteers or in-kind contributions
(paid or given in goods or services instead of money). Spend some time learning about the many vibrant organizations nearby at http:// centreconnect.org/health/ health_hum_services.html or centreconnect.org. Community Help Centre also is happy to provide you with information about volunteer options throughout our area — your involvement can be ongoing or intermittent.
Our community is distinguished by how well we look after each other, and opportunities to assure that we are responsive and compassionate are abundant.
A simple and enjoyable way to help out is available throughout the delightful events during Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. Stop by Community Help Centre’s lemonade stand (on the lawn at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, the 300 block of Fraser Street), where you can meet extraordinary and committed volunteers, learn more about our agency and have an ice cold drink. Of course, donations are welcome.
Community Help Centre is a volunteer-based, nonprofit organization that provides services, resources, education, training and information to people who are in need of support and to people who are seeking volunteer opportunities in our community.
With a drop-in center and 24-hour hotline as our foundation, we work to coordinate and deliver human services throughout Centre County.
Bonnie Tatterson is the director of Community Help Centre.
