Looking to give back in Centre County? Local nonprofits share their greatest needs
From funding uncertainty to increased demand for services, 2025 has been a challenging year for many Centre County nonprofits. With the arrival of the season of giving, there are many ways to help.
We asked local nonprofits to share information about what they do for the community and what they need most. Dec. 2 is Giving Tuesday, but there are ways to help make a difference into 2026 too. From financial contributions to volunteering and specific donations, below is a look at how 21 nonprofits responded to the CDT’s form about their top needs and challenges.
Bellefonte Community Lunch Program
128 W. Howard St Bellefonte PA 16823
Serving the community: We serve a free lunch every M-W-F at Trinity UMC Fellowship Hall at 11:30 a.m., provided by one of 14 volunteer serving groups, mostly members of local churches. We started these free lunches 28 years ago when the government soup-kitchen program ended, originally serving the lunches at the First Presbyterian Church across the street until that building was sold.
Biggest challenge this year: We run on a bare-bones budget, but do need money for purchasing serving supplies, basic cooking supplies, and local grocery cards for our serving groups to help them buy the raw materials for their meals. Donations have been dwindling over the years and so now we are reaching our for new sources of community financial support.
Top needs this holiday season: See above. Please note that we are not a standalone 501(c)(3). Donations can be sent to Trinity UMC, with “Bellefonte Community Lunch Program” in the memo. The lunch program has a checking account at FNB, where donations will be deposited.
How else to help: Sometimes we have a need to bring on another serving group, or some of our existing groups may need more helpers.
Contact: Coordinator Jo Ann Sengle, jbs9@psu.edu
Centre County Library and Historical Museum
203 N. Allegheny St., Bellefonte, West Beryl Street Centre Hall and 17 Front Street, Philipsburg
Serving the community: As a public library with four locations, we support early literacy, life-long learning, and free access to technology.
Biggest challenge this year: Maintaining four physical locations including a building that is over 200 years old is a constant drain on our resources.
Top needs this holiday season: Due to budget limitations we had to scale back on purchasing books, eBooks, audiobooks and DVDs. So, money to purchase more materials is always important.
How else to help: Get a library card and use it often! Advocate for better local government funding, and make a personal donation.
Contact: dsticha@centrecountylibrary.org
Centre County PAWS
1401 Trout Road, State College, PA 16801 Serving the community: Centre County PAWS Promotes animal welfare and safety with compassion through adoption, sheltering, education and community assistance. Our vision is to build a compassionate Centre Region where animals thrive. PAWS will lead the way by serving as a premier resource for companion animals and their caregivers.
Biggest challenge this year: PAWS’ biggest challenge in 2025 has been the large increase in demand for assistance with rehoming animals, especially dogs. We have seen a huge increase in the number of abandoned animals in the county. We also try our best to keep our public Pet Pantry stocked to feed animals and keep them safely in their homes, but the demand has become too great to fully meet. Top needs this holiday season: Dry cat food (any brand) for our public Pet Pantry; dry dog food (and brand) for our public Pet Pantry; canned dog food (any brand); HE laundry detergent; bleach
How else to help: Fosters are always needed! You can apply on our website: centrecountypaws.org/foster
Contact: 814-237-8722, mail@centrecountypaws.org
Centre County United Way
112 W. Foster Ave., Ste 301, State College, PA 16801
Serving the community: We raise funds through an annual community campaign to support safety net programs for 22 of our local nonprofit agencies. These are programs that directly impact the working families in Centre County who don’t have the resources to make ends meet each month.
Biggest challenge this year: Educating the community about the needs in our area and how Centre County United Way helps. When you give to Centre County United Way, you’re not just helping one program — you’re strengthening a whole network of 22 local partner agencies and the specific programs that support ALICE households in our community. ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — our neighbors who are working, often in multiple jobs, but still struggling to make ends meet. Your gift to United Way helps address all the “ripple effects” of this crisis — not just food insecurity, but also housing stability, childcare, mental health support, transportation, and access to basic needs.
Top needs this holiday season: If you want to help the most people in the most effective way, please give to Centre County United Way. Your one gift supports many agencies, many programs, and thousands of local working families who are doing everything right and still coming up short.
How else to help: If they are already Centre County United Way donors they can tell their friends and families why they donate and encourage others to give. Contact: 814-238-8283, megan@ccunitedway.org or ccunitedway.org
Centre Helps
406 S. Pugh St., State College, PA 16801 Serving the community: 24/7 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and Information and Referral, Basic Needs Case Management to help prevent eviction and utility shut-off
Biggest challenge this year: Our biggest challenge has been keeping up with the demand and having enough money for direct client aid. Top needs this holiday season: Funding for direct client aid, food donations for our emergency food pantry, donations to help support and retain our volunteer hotline counselors.
How else to help: Donations to the General Fund are always helpful. Contact: www.centrehelps.org and click on “Donate” or email denisem@centrehelps.org
Centre LifeLink EMS
125 Puddintown Road, State College, PA 16801 Serving the community: Emergency ambulance service, training and education courses for community members, businesses, and medical professionals, community room rental
Biggest challenge this year: Reimbursement for emergency medical services Top needs this holiday season: For residents in the Centre Region to register for membership through their local ambulance service.
How else to help: Make a donation, send thank you cards/words of encouragement, snacks and food to our emergency crews who work 24/7/365 to keep our communities safe.
Contact: Lshurgalla@centrelifelink.com
Centre Safe
140 W. Nittany Ave., State College 16801 Serving the community: We provide services to victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence and their significant others — from emergency shelter and legal advocacy to hospital accompaniment, 24-hour hotline, counseling, and safe custody exchanges.
Biggest challenge this year: The dual budget impasses have strained our budget; our discretionary funding for non-essential items has been greatly impacted.
Top needs this holiday season: Bus tokens; Lyft/Uber gift cards; cleaning supplies; gift cards to local fast food restaurants, IHOP, Cracker Barrel How else to help: The full list of needed items can be found at centresafe.org Contact: 814-238-7066, centresafe@centresafe.org
Centre Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM)
2026 Sandy Drive, State College, PA 16803 Serving the community: CVIM serves and advocates for the medically underserved living or working in Centre County. We provide free medical, dental, behavioral health, case management and medication assistance services to uninsured patients annually through a volunteer-driven model, ensuring everyone in our community can access compassionate, high-quality care.
Biggest challenge this year: The growing demand for services coupled with limited grant and foundation funding available to support that need.
Top needs this holiday season: Volunteers, especially front desk support, primary care providers, RNs, LPNs, CMAs, EMTs, and translators, as well as financial contributions to support patient care. How else to help: Every donation truly makes a difference. A gift of $50 can help cover the cost of a 30-minute physical therapy appointment, and $100 can support a 30 minute counseling appointment. Our volunteer doctors, nurses and support staff generously give their time. However, we still rely on donor funding to provide the necessary supplies, equipment and resources to care for our patients.
Beyond donating, simply spreading the word that CVIM is here and ready to help makes a meaningful difference. Many people still do not know that free, high-quality health care is available in Centre County, and a single conversation can connect someone to the care they need.
Contact: 814-231-4043, cvim@cvim.net
Dads Resource Center
Serving the community: The DRC provides education, resources and advocacy for single fathers struggling to be the lives of their children because of barriers and biases in the family court, county and human service systems.
Biggest challenge this year: Due to the ever-growing demand from dedicated fathers desperately fighting for the opportunity to provide their children with the love and guidance they need to grow into thriving and productive adults the DRC will be opening an office in State College in December. This office will also serve as the primary location for services for fathers in Centre County who have been impacted by Intimate Partner Violence / Domestic Violence such as physical, mental and psychological abuse.
Top needs this holiday season: The DRC is supported almost exclusively by private donations, so any financial assistance for our expanding support services would be welcomed. General office supplies (cleaning, paper products, etc.) as well as items to support supervised visitations or displaced single fathers also would be welcomed.
Contact: 883-323-7748, info@dadsrc.org, dadsrc.org/donations/1026
Interfaith Human Services
251 Easterly Parkway, Suite 200, State College, PA
Serving the community: Programs that support and promote financial stability for low income residents of Centre County
Biggest challenge this year: Fundraising
Top needs this holiday season: Financial support
How else to help: Forever first class postage stamps Contact: 814-234-7731
Mid-State Literacy Council
248 E. Calder Way, Suite 307, State College, PA 16801
Serving the community: We provide basic literacy instruction in reading, writing, math, technology and English communication to adults so they can achieve their career goals, navigate the health care system, support their families, and participate more fully in society.
Biggest challenge this year: Anxiety, fear and uncertainty affects our immigrant students who are navigating changing policies in a new language and culture. Cuts to social benefits affect our low-income students who utilize supplementary programs for food, housing and utility assistance.
Top needs this holiday season: monetary donations, book donations, kindness toward ALL
How else to help: Volunteer to teach or tutor adults in basic reading, writing, math, technology, or English communication
Contact: 814-238-1809, mslc@mid-stateliteracycouncil.org
The Music Academy
3060 Enterprise Drive, Suite 114, State College, PA16801 Serving the community: We are a nonprofit community music school serving all ages and musical abilities in central Pennsylvania. We currently enroll 250+ students and employ 25+ music instructors.
Biggest challenge this year: As a nonprofit, we strive to keep our tuition prices low enough to make them accessible to a wide audience. Therefore when it comes to large purchases, we need to budget months in advance.
Top needs this holiday season: We have a big need for a new laser color printer/scanner in our main office — desktop size is fine; does not need to be industrial size, but bluetooth capability would be wonderful!
How else to help: We would love to have some volunteers come to our school and help with some projects around the office and building before our executive director’s maternity leave begins! (Jan. 15-March 15!)
Contact: Caroline Stahl, executive director, director@scmusicacademy.org
Out of the Cold Centre County
318 S. Atherton St., State College Serving the community: Homeless shelter Biggest challenge this year: Affordable housing
Top needs this holiday season: Cleaning supplies, personal hygiene products, toilet paper How else to help: Volunteer or provide a meal Contact: 814-852-8864, info@outofthecoldcc.org
People, Parks & Community Foundation
2131 Sandy Drive, State College, PA 16803
Serving the community: High-impact grants to nonprofits and municipalities for recreational, educational, community and capacity development. In its 2025 inaugural year, awarded $112,000 for six projects statewide.
Biggest challenge this year: Raising funds for organizational capacity to both award grants and grow operations.
Top needs this holiday season: Raise $10,000 in year-end giving: peopleparks.org/support
How else to help: The Foundation is actively seeking and developing collaborative corporate partners and sponsors, and in filling a few volunteer board and committee positions, and welcomes inquiries.
Contact: herd@peopleparks.org
Pine Hall Cemetery Association
3346 Pamela Circle, State College 16801
Serving the community: Provide cemetery burial plots Biggest challenge this year: Financial Top need this holiday season: Funding to maintain the cemetery
How else to help: Send donations via www.pinehallcemetery.org
Contact: secretary@ pinehallcemetery.org
Port Matilda EMS
402 S. High St. Port Matilda Serving the community: We are an EMS agency that responds to 911 emergencies, non-emergency transport to doctor appointments and same day surgery.
Biggest challenge this year: Funding. We struggle to fund payroll as well as needed items to continue operations and maintain the talented staff that we have working for us currently.
Top needs this holiday season: Volunteer EMTs and drivers: We are always in need of dedicated individuals willing to serve their neighbors. Volunteer EMTs, wheelchair-van drivers, and community event helpers are vital to keeping Port Matilda EMS strong. Training and mentorship are provided.
Monetary donations: Every contribution — large or small — directly supports patient care, vehicle maintenance, fuel and medical supplies. Donations also help offset insurance reimbursement delays and rising operational costs.
Community support items: Gift cards for fuel, food, or home improvement stores (used for volunteers, recognition, and station needs)
Support for our 2026 Membership Drive: Our membership drives helps us to cover many of the cost that insurance reimbursement fails to meet.
How else to help: Take the time to come to the meetings that are open to the public and get an understanding of the operations of EMS and the struggles that we face keeping a rural service open. Take the time to meet and learn about the individuals that give so much to be there during your time of need.
Contact: Jack Bonsell, Captain: 814-692-1035, Portcaptain27@gmail.com
Rising Hope Therapeutic Riding Center
388 Reese Road, Bellefonte, PA 16823 Serving the community: We provide Equine Assisted Services to individuals with special needs either emotional or physical, and veterans and their families
Biggest challenge this year: Getting enough funding for supporting our equine herd
Top needs this holiday season: Horse related supplies, such as grooming equipment, bedding for the stalls, and monetary gifts
How else to help: We are always in need of dedicated volunteers who can help take care of our equine herd and provide maintenance and upkeep at the barn with the stalls and help with lessons. We are also looking for experienced instructors who can help facilitate lessons.
Contact: 814-280-0159, risinghope.trc@gmail.com
State College Community Land Trust (SCCLT)
1315 S. Allen Street, Suite 306, State College PA 16801
Serving the community: We create safe, energy-efficient, permanently affordable homes so families in State College can thrive.
Biggest challenge this year: Turning inquiries into contracts is our biggest challenge — there are far more individuals and families in need of affordable homes than we have available.
Top needs this holiday season: Our top needs are financial support through one-time and recurring donations and planned giving, including the option to purchase your home when you are ready to sell. These contributions help us build and preserve more permanently affordable homes for the community.
How else to help: People can help by volunteering to help with home remodeling, following us on social media, joining our email list, and attending our 30th anniversary celebration in April 2026 at 3 Dots Downtown.
Contact: 814-867-0656, sccltadmin@scclandtrust.org, www.scclandtrust.org
State College Food Bank
169 Gerald St., State College, PA 16801 Serving the community: The State College Food bank provides food security, directly or indirectly, to people in Centre County, thus ensuring that no one in Centre County goes hungry.
Biggest challenge this year: Our biggest challenge in 2025 has been the changes to SNAP qualifications and the disruptions to SNAP benefits, which have increased the number of people we are serving and, in turn, the amount of food moving through our building.
Top needs this holiday season: People can support the Food Bank by donating food or funds, which help us keep our shelves stocked and meet growing community needs. You can also make a big impact by spreading the word about our services and letting others know that we’re here to help. And if someone needs support themselves, please encourage them to reach out — we’re here for anyone facing food insecurity.
Contact: 814-234-2310, Info@scfoodbank.org
Strawberry Fields, Inc.
3054 Enterprise Drive, State College, PA 16801 Serving the community: Strawberry Fields, Inc. provides comprehensive community-based supports and programming for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism and mental health challenges. Strawberry Fields is dedicated to fostering independence and community engagement through residential services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities or serious and persistent mental health challenges; mental health (blended) case management; supported employment; and early intervention programs tailored to meet the specific needs of each individual. Strawberry Fields empowers individuals and enriches lives through the following programs: • Intellectual disabilities: Community homes for individuals with intellectual disabilities in small residential settings. These homes promote independence, helping individuals develop self-help, socialization and adaptive skills necessary to reside successfully in their homes and communities. • Mental health: Designed to help individuals reach their goals, while promoting wellness and focusing on strengths, services include: blended case management, community residential rehabilitation and the Fairweather Lodge (a permanent living arrangement for people with mental health diagnoses). • Early intervention: Supports and therapy services to meet the needs of infants and toddlers with developmental delays. Services are family-centered and are designed to reflect each family’s strengths, priorities, resources and routines. • Social enterprises: We operate two businesses that employ adults with autism, intellectual disabilities and mental health diagnoses: Scraps & Skeins and Good Day Café.
Biggest need this holiday season: Our residential program’s high-need items include non-stick pots and pans, silicone kitchen utensils, full-size deep-pocket sheets and comforters, bed pillows, large bath towels, silverware sets, heavy metal twin bed frames, twin mattresses, six black folding chairs, and vacuum cleaners. How else to help: If you’d like to lend a hand this season, you’re welcome to donate any of the items above or make a financial gift in whatever amount feels right. Your support helps us show up for the more than 1,300 individuals we are privileged to serve.
Contact: Jeannine Lozier at 814-234-2023 ext. 103 or jlozier@sfionline.org, or visit www.sfionline
Youth Service Bureau
325 W. Aaron Drive, State College, PA 16803 Serving the community: The Youth Service Bureau (YSB) exists to help ensure children, youth and families have every opportunity to reach their full potential. We do this through offering an array of prevention programs (e.g., Big Brothers Big Sisters, Youth Centers, Street Outreach), family services (e.g., Family Group Decision Making, parenting education), and residential homes (Stormbreak Girls Group Home, Burrowes Street Youth Haven, Independent Living) where children and the adults who care about them can find safety, resources and hope.
Biggest challenge this year: Instability within our largest sources of funding (government and other grants, state human services funding, etc.) has been our biggest challenge this year. We’re also seeing the local impact of more families struggling to meet the rising costs of living resulting in food insecurity, housing instability and inability to afford high-quality childcare.
Top needs this holiday season: Monetary donations are always very helpful, and giving in this way ensures that your assistance can be used where it is most needed. We are thrilled to announce that YSB has an anonymous donor who has committed to match all “Giving Tuesday” donations dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000. We don’t want to miss out on this opportunity to make twice the impact for every donation! Visit ccysb.com to donate to our Giving Tuesday campaign.
How else to help: For those interested in donating items, we have a higher need for holiday gifts for older youth (ages 12 and up), and some of the youth who will end up spending the holidays with us will enter our shelter program just days or a couple of weeks before Christmas. Since we have no way of knowing their specific wishes ahead of time, Target gift cards (any amount) are very helpful. We also always welcome community members to sign up for a Big Brothers Big Sisters info session (about 45 minutes long) via our website. You’ll learn more about our volunteering needs, and can choose to take the next step yourself, or recommend attending a session to a friend or family member who may want to volunteer as a mentor in 2026.
Contact: Main office: 814-237-5731; 24/7 hotline for youth or families in crisis or in need of resources: 814-234-2100.
This story was originally published November 29, 2025 at 5:24 AM.