Written by Jacki Boone, Data Manager

April is National Volunteer Month, and the City of Philadelphia is thanking all volunteers who give the gift of time and service to our communities.

We’re celebrating with a daily volunteer spotlight! Each day on social media, we’re sharing the story of a volunteer or national service member making an impact in Philadelphia.

Learn about our featured volunteers for April 15 – 21 below:

Zach Nichols
Zach is a volunteer with Prevention Point Philadelphia’s Syringe Service Program. In his volunteer role, Zach greets people with consideration and dignity. He helps the people he works with receive life-saving services.

Karen O’Hara
Karen is a volunteer chess and scrabble coach with After School Activities Partnerships. After retiring as a school teacher, Karen has continued to support students in their after school activities. She has volunteered at F. Amadee Bregy Elementary for the past 20 years. Karen has brought her students to field trips, tournaments, and state and national trips.

Merletta Matthews
Merletta was one of the first AmeriCorps members to join the Community Resource Corps in 2021. From the beginning, Merletta has immersed herself into Philadelphia communities. She connects residents with essential resources, helps them with application processes, and conducts outreach across the city. Merletta never hesitates to identify opportunities to provide more support to city residents.

Claudia Kozar
Claudia is a volunteer at FABSCRAP, an organization that diverts textile waste from landfills. Despite her busy schedule as a student, she volunteers several times a month and is always engaged. Last year, Claudia and other volunteers sorted over 39,000 pounds of textile waste at FABSCRAP’s Philadelphia location!

Aletha Finnah
Aletha is a Health Navigator & Peer Educator volunteer with African Cultural Alliance of North America (ACANA), where she supports the African immigrant community in Philadelphia with interpretation services. Aletha’s service has led to an increase in community members accessing health screenings, attending workshops, and seeking medical services offered by ACANA.

Marie Romero
Marie Romero is a Foster Grandparent volunteer, who serves with Morton Elementary School. Marie promotes literacy in the classroom and hosts English Language Arts activities for the children. Her efforts and diligence nurture an atmosphere of safety and a love of learning.

Lawana Dumas
Lawana Dumas is a volunteer leader with Compass Pro Bono. She’s been using her business acumen to strengthen the nonprofit community. With enthusiasm and empathy, Lawana conveys her eagerness for giving back and promotes skills-based volunteer opportunities among like-minded professionals.

Many thanks to these volunteers for your time, dedication, and commitment to service, and to the organizations who shared their volunteers’ stories and impact!

Want to volunteer with any of the organizations featured on this page? Check out their opportunities below:

 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to see all of our daily Volunteer Month features!

Search and sign up for a volunteer opportunity today at the Mayor's Volunteer portal.