It is not enough to appreciate the contributions of volunteers. Nonprofit organizations must express that appreciation.

At its upcoming event, the Samaritan Center will validate the contributions its volunteers constantly and consistently make.

"Our volunteers are super important," said Nancy Pleger, the development officer for the Samaritan Center. "They are the ones who keep the place running. They give support to staff members and the executive team and allow us to do more. They use their connections to help us get in doors. Volunteers are the backbone. Without these dedicated volunteers, we're just people offering services. We're not a community lifting each other up."

The Samaritan Center's appreciation will be on full display during its Community and Volunteer event on Sunday, June 28, at Penn Medicine Park, 650 N. Prince St., Lancaster, the home of the Lancaster Stormers professional baseball club. On that day, the Stormers will take on the Gastonia Ghost Peppers at 1:30 p.m. Gates will open at 12:30 p.m.

As part of the Samaritan Center's volunteer and community celebration, game tickets can be purchased at reduced rates at https://samaritanlancaster.org/event/community-and-volunteer-event.

The event is also designed to serve as organizational outreach to make the community aware of what the Samaritan Center is all about and what it does.

"We wouldn't be here without our volunteers," said Pleger. "The Samaritan Center was established in 1988 as a mission of Highland Presbyterian Church, and it was started by volunteers."

At the ballpark that afternoon, a selected volunteer will throw out the first pitch, and a Samaritan Center official will address the fans about the work that the nonprofit performs in the community. There will be promotions staged throughout the stadium, and the Samaritan Center will man an information table.

"We're hoping it's a fun, high-energy event," said Pleger. "People can bring their families out and have a great time. The goal is to have a fun day, and so people can learn about (the) Samaritan Center as well. We're celebrating service and connecting our community."

The Samaritan Center, which promotes mental health; provides related services; and operates locations at 1803 Oregon Pike, Lancaster, and at 33 N. Market St., Suite 400, Lancaster, is staffed by 50 employees, mainly therapists and administrative personnel.

But the nonprofit also benefits from 1,000 annual volunteer hours donated by more than 70 altruistic individuals. The majority of the volunteers reside in Lancaster County.

"They're a group of individuals who really care about mental health in our community," said Pleger. "They want to make sure services are affordable and available to everyone."

"We can play a lot of different roles, depending on where we are," said Nick Heller, the Samaritan Center's marketing manager. "We break down barriers for people needing mental health services. We are here to help."

From January to May this year, the Samaritan Center has provided more than 8,000 counseling sessions to clients. In 2025, the Samaritan Center furnished more than 17,000 counseling sessions, 2,000 more than it did in 2024.

As part of its services, the organization also offers mental health screenings, educational series, therapeutic programs, consulting, church programs, ministry assessment and its TeenHope program for kids.