Voices of the Valley

Mike and Terese Cudwadie have been longtime advocates of Dorneyville’s Angel Shop, a major contributor to Mary’s Shelter in Reading. As the parents of two sons, the loneliness of them being away at school inspired Mike and Terese to further their…

Catherine Benincasa has been volunteering at the Cetronia Ambulance Corps every Thursday for the past six years and works extra days as needed. Benincasa, who has Down syndrome, first began volunteering there because she wanted to help people. Ce…

In 2009, when Ashanti Littlejohn was in high school, she began investing in her college career. She started volunteering at St. Luke’s University Health Network’s main campus with the goal to one day work there, and she has been volunteering with…

When Logan Houptley moved to Nazareth Area School District in 2004, one of his first friends was Mikayla. Mikayla was brain damaged at birth, which resulted in spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, severe intellectual disability, seizure disorder,…

As the holidays grow nearer, one of the greatest gifts to give is a helping hand. Support the local charities this season to ensure it is a happy one for all. Itty Bitty KittyItty Bitty Kitty, Inc. is a nonprofit that runs solely on v…

Many of us look forward to the end of the year as a time for feasting, gathering with loved ones, exchanging gifts and enjoying warm homes sparkling with holiday lights. Let’s make sure this hope and happiness spills over to folks struggling to p…

When Nick Ogutu started attending Cedar Crest College, he was looking for a way to continue his passion and commitment to human rights. From the ground up, he started Amnesty International Cedar Crest College Chapter. Amnesty International is a g…

Donate.Local.Simple is an organization dedicated to connecting those in need with those willing to give. The organization was founded roughly seven years ago by Trish Dilg when she and her family relocated to the Lehigh Valley and realized its ne…

Bill and Chris Hankee founded the Krysta Hankee Memorial Fund in 2007 in memory of their daughter, Krysta Hankee. Krysta died at the age of 22, a few days after having collapsed while exercising. As a way to keep her memory alive and pay forward …

If you are unfamiliar with The Perfect Fit for Working Women, they are a nonprofit career development center and boutique for low income women entering the workforce. Based out of the Allentown YMCA and a program of the YWCA, The Perfect Fit prov…

The America Reads challenge was a government initiative formed during the Clinton Administration, which challenged hundreds of thousands of volunteers to gather and tutor children who were at the risk of falling behind in school. Through individu…

Nestled in Lehigh University’s Bethlehem campus is a dynamic “hub” at which the university’s faculty, staff and students are encouraged to form community partnerships in order to become engaged, active citizens through learning and research proje…

“I live for today,” says heart disease survivor Teresa Wright-Johnson. Her experience has taught her that life is a gift, and every moment must be treasured. Born with a heart defect and an abnormal heart valve, Wright-Johnson has had multiple op…

There’s no denying that a gradual disintegration of a sense of community is occurring in today’s society—exacerbated by digital distractions and isolated communication. Nevertheless, one visionary in the Valley avows that with a little effort and…

Many know the recent Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Andre Reed and his most recent reverence in Allentown, when the field at the J. Birney Crum Stadium was named in his honor.At that time, Reed demonstrated his philanthropic nature by pre…

In light of Earth Day coming up at the end of the month, you may be reevaluating your carbon footprint or giving your green thumb another try. One organization comprised of Lehigh Valley environmental advocates has made it their mission since 200…

Kimberly Adams has spent her life volunteering for a multitude of organizations, but lately, she’s focused her efforts on doing construction for Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley. As soon as she attended a few how-to workshops at her loca…