New program makes volunteering easier for people who need service hours.

United Way of Lancaster County launched Community Connect 2026 to list volunteer-ready organizations that offer low-barrier opportunities, and it is also recruiting VITA scheduler volunteers to support tax-season appointments through April 15.

United Way of Lancaster County has launched Community Connect: SNAP Requirements & Readily Available Volunteer Opportunities on its Get Connected site. The hub is intended to build a network of volunteer-ready organizations across Lancaster County. Volunteer-ready agencies are described as those prepared to offer accessible, low-barrier opportunities for people who need service hours. Agencies will be added on a rolling basis. Key details: - Community Connect is hosted on United Way of Lancaster County's Get Connected platform and seeks to list volunteer-ready organizations. - "Volunteer-ready" describes agencies prepared to offer accessible, low-barrier volunteer opportunities for people who may need to complete community service or volunteer hours. - The initiative is intended to include people maintaining SNAP benefits, students fulfilling service requirements, and residents seeking low-barrier volunteering. - Agencies are being added on a rolling basis so the resource remains current and responsive to community needs. - United Way is also recruiting 15–30 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) scheduler volunteers to book appointments and perform basic client screening; training is a two-hour session, the volunteer period runs through April 15, and shifts are three hours with remote or on-site options. - The article notes research linking volunteering to stronger community outcomes and that VITA programs can help eligible families retain substantial tax credits and refunds. Summary: These efforts are presented as ways to lower barriers to volunteering and to increase access to services that support community stability. Community Connect aims to maintain an up-to-date list of volunteer-ready organizations while agencies are added on a rolling basis. The VITA scheduler recruitment is scheduled through April 15 to support tax-season operations.