National Volunteer Week thanks to adult education volunteers and all

April 22, 2026  |  By Brian Kravitz

“Everyone should volunteer. It doesn’t matter if someone is retired or still working; it gives life a purpose. Volunteering for local nonprofits ties one to their community and neighbors, gives a new outlook and perspective, and builds the social interactions that are often missing in today’s digital society, especially for retirees.”

These words from Sarah Semler, Central Vermont Adult Education’s volunteer coordinator, are so true. And with decades of experience in this role with multiple organizations, she sees the value in ways that others don’t. 

This week is National Volunteer Week (April 19 – 25), and we wish to salute all volunteers in Vermont and worldwide. They teach, mentor, deliver food, provide socialization and security, and do thousands of other tasks that are imperative for nonprofits to function in a time where funding is tighter than ever. 

At Central Vermont Adult Education alone, close to 64 volunteers provided almost 1,800 hours of service last year. With almost a full quarter left in the current fiscal year, nearly 70 volunteers have provided over 1,800 service hours, most of which were instructional. 

With between 400 and 500 students a year and only 11 teachers, we could not do our work without our volunteers. Most volunteers don’t know how important they are to the organizations they serve. We are here to say: Thank you, we couldn’t do it without you! 

Vermont has an amazing culture surrounding volunteerism. With so many community-based nonprofits in need, this turns out to be a wonderful thing. We also extend a special thank you to the plethora of local businesses that not only encourage volunteerism amongst their employees, but also offer paid time for them to volunteer. That’s a benefit to the company, the employee, and the entire community. It is a testament to Vermont’s core values.

In honor of Volunteer Week, we applaud our volunteers, the thousands of others donating their time to any number of organizations and causes, and the businesses that go above and beyond supporting their employees’ volunteerism. You change our communities for the better and allow nonprofits like Central Vermont Adult Education to do our work. 

Thank you!

From Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” 

Please contact Sarah Semler for more information on volunteering with Central Vermont Adult Education: ssemler@cvae.net or 802-476-4588.

Waterbury resident Brian Kravitz is Director of Outreach and Workforce Development at Central Vermont Adult Education.