💜 Celebrating Our Volunteers: A Night of Gratitude (and Dogs!)

Last night, we gathered to celebrate something truly special—our volunteers.

These are the people who give their time, energy, and heart to support LGBT Life Center’s mission. From packing food in our Pride Pantry to staffing community events, writing thank-you notes, and stepping up at big moments like Dining Out For Life, our volunteers are the reason we can do what we do.

And last night? We got to say thank you.

🐶 Pups, Pints, and Pride

This year’s Volunteer Appreciation Party had a fun new twist: Pups & Pints! We were joined by some adorable four-legged guests (and their humans) for a laid-back, joy-filled evening of community. There were wagging tails, lots of belly rubs, and more than a few squeals of delight. It reminded us just how full-hearted and joy-filled our community can be—even in challenging times.

✨ By the Numbers (and the Heart)

Between July 2024 and June 2025:

🧍‍♀️ 651 volunteers gave their time
⏱️ They contributed 3,607 hours of service
💵 That’s $72,681.05 in donated time
📈 That’s a 32% increase in volunteers since January 2025

Their impact can be seen everywhere:

🥫 Helping distribute 400,000+ pounds of food to nearly 150 families each week in our Pride Pantry
🍽️ Supporting events like Dining Out For Life (100+ volunteers this year!)
✉️ Assisting with admin and infrastructure, from data entry to donor engagement
🎁 Making holiday drives happen—from Thanksgiving baskets to Adopt-A-Family gifts
🎓 Interning from 4 college campuses across the region
🍹 Bartending and repping the Center at community events like HarborFest, July 4th, and Naro Cinema Pride Night

💬 From Stacie Walls, CEO:

“We couldn’t do this work without our volunteers. They show up for our mission, for our clients, and for each other—again and again. I’m so deeply grateful to everyone who gives their time to help build a more affirming and inclusive world.”

💡 Want to Get Involved?

There are so many ways to give back—on your schedule, in your community, in a way that feels right for you.

👉 Sign up to volunteer at lgbtlifecenter.org/volunteer
Whether you have a few hours a week or just want to help at an event, we’d love to have you.

📸 Scroll through the photos below to see the love, laughter, and pups from the event!