Like many rural areas of eastern Virginia, the River Counties—Lancaster, Middlesex, and Northumberland—have an abundance of unmet needs. But the region also has a deeply rooted commitment to volunteering and civic engagement. Now, a new coalition of non-profit agencies is working to connect the need with the helpers.  

The result is the River Counties Volunteer Capacity Building Project, a coordinated approach to engaging the time and talents of residents in volunteer-based programs. The project will streamline and simplify efforts to help people access the close-to-home volunteer opportunities that interest them most. 

The project is a collaboration between Serve Virginia, the Virginia Service Foundation, and the River Counties Community Foundation (RCCF). Funding has been generously provided by the non-profit Robert B. Lantz Foundation. 

“We are thrilled for the opportunity to partner with Serve Virginia and the Virginia Service Foundation on this initiative, which promises to dramatically change the volunteer landscape of the River Counties,” said RCCF director Lincoln Boykin. 

“The Robert B. Lantz Foundation is honored to support this innovative initiative to strengthen our culture of service, volunteerism, and civic engagement across the region and to serve as a rural incubator statewide,” said Jimmie Carter, Robert B. Lantz Board Member, who recently brought the collaboration proposal to the service agencies. 

“This project is an exciting chance for us to apply insights gathered through our statewide research at a regional level, strengthening the River Counties,” said Kathy J. Spangler, Director of Serve Virginia. “Serve Virginia and the Virginia Service Foundation work to convene partners in collaborative efforts like these, and we look forward to using this experience to support this region in developing a more robust culture of volunteerism.” 

An organizational meeting of leaders whose organizations would benefit from increased volunteerism is slated for January 28, 2025. Key organizations, including the Rappahannock General Hospital, Bay Aging, Free Health Clinic, and Red Cross have already expressed their enthusiasm for this project and will be attending. For more details about this launch event, contact Kathy J. Spangler, Director of Serve Virginia at kathy.spangler@dss.virginia.gov.

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River Counties Community Foundation enhances the quality of life in Lancaster, Middlesex, and Northumberland counties by connecting people who care with causes that matter; providing superior stewardship for donors; and creating a better quality of life, forever. Learn more at RiverCountiesCF.org 

The Robert B. Lantz Foundation is a private foundation located in Irvington, Virginia, that primarily funds pastoral counseling, nature conservation, healthcare services, and education.