volunteering Archives - Penn-Mar

Alexis’ Alpaca Experience: A Labor of Love

ggorham — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 20:26:51 +0000

Working with alpacas is helping Alexis build skills and confidence for a future with animals.

Alexis Boddiford grew up helping on her parents’ farm, cleaning stalls and caring for mares and their newborn foals. From horses to guinea pigs, animals have always been part of her life.

Alexis poses with an alpaca at the farm.

Since moving into a Penn-Mar community home in Dallastown, Pennsylvania, Alexis has continued finding ways to work with animals. She has cared for pigs at Whispering Rise Farm & Animal Sanctuary and volunteered at her local SPCA.

For the past three years, Alexis has volunteered at Alpacas of York Shear Heaven Farm where they breed and raise quality alpacas. The farm also runs alpaca walks, tours, and educational field trips and also offers craft classes and agritourism experiences.

One day a week, Alexis and her fellow volunteers have been learning how to train the alpacas for competitions at the 4-H Show at York Fairgrounds and the upcoming July Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.

When Penn-Mar DSP and Residential Supervisor Michelle Flickinger first accompanied Alexis to the farm, she followed Alexis’ lead. “I had some experience with cats and dogs, but being with alpacas is totally different,” she said.

Alpacas are generally docile animals, but they are notorious for spitting as a way of communicating emotions like discomfort or irritation.

Owner of the farm, Carey DuRand, helps Alexis put a halter on an alpaca.

Alexis has learned to walk on the left side of alpacas and touch them on the neck when giving them direction. “If you touch them on the butt, they get startled,” she explained. “When they don’t want to do something, their ears bend down and they start to spit and spray. They might even sit down and refuse to move.”

Alexis turns her back to them when this happens, allowing them time to settle down. “I am not intimidated by their behavior,” she said. “I calm them and they calm me. Most have good behavior, but you have to be prepared when they are not cooperative.”

To prepare for the 4-H competitions, volunteers guide the alpacas through obstacles such as stepping in and out of a kiddie swimming pool, looking in a mirror, going up and down a ramp, and staying calm when an umbrella opens and closes.

Alexis’ experience at the farm epitomizes Penn-Mar’s 3 E’s initiative that uses experience, exposure, and education to provide more meaningful understanding about a topic for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Alexis said her alpaca fiber art is going to be a flower design when she’s finished.

In addition to her volunteering duties, Alexis attends some of the farm’s educational programs and she participated in a six-week fiber arts class where she researched images to stitch with a needle and alpaca hair to create beautiful sunsets and flowers that she presented to the class.

Michelle has watched Alexis build her confidence, make new friends, and form a strong bond with Carey DuRand, the alpaca farm owner, who holds her to the same high standards as every other farm volunteer.

“Working with the alpacas is a labor of love,” said Alexis. “I’m picking up a lot of skills, and all the different chores are teaching me discipline and structure that I hope will help me get a paid job someday working with animals.”

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When Support Comes Full Circle

ggorham — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:52:44 +0000

Volunteers at Penn-Mar are giving their time, energy, and heart to others in the community.

April is National Volunteer Month, and the spirit of generosity is alive and well at Penn-Mar.

Over the years, Penn-Mar has received support from families, individuals, and small businesses who have generously shared their time, talent, and resources. Many corporate volunteer teams also offer hands-on assistance with landscaping and the refurbishment of physical spaces at our offices and community homes.

We’ve highlighted many of our generous volunteers over the years, but what you may not realize is that some of the people we support are doing that same work every day.

Lisa Hendrix,

Lisa smiles at the camera while standing behind the cash register in the gift shop.

a Westminster Community Development Services participant, has volunteered one day a week at Carroll Lutheran Village Senior Living and Care community gift shop in Westminster for the past two years. She helps with cleaning and socializes with customers. She has also been working on improving her business skills and building her confidence by engaging with customers.

According to Senior Direct Support Professional (DSP) Maria Swift, Lisa is independent by nature, so it took her a while to feel at ease greeting and assisting Gift Shop customers. “I’ve seen so much growth in her since she started at the gift shop. The position has greatly improved her communication skills, and now she feels very comfortable chatting with her regular customers, which boosted her confidence. She is also learning to count by fives and tens while working the cash register,” said Maria.

In fact, Lisa said that “working the cash register is my favorite task of the day!”

Mark Ruppersberger,

Mark smiles at the camera and holds a thumbs up as he stands in front of a large stack of pallets that’s almost taller than he is.

a Penn-Mar resident since 2020, is a popular volunteer at First Fruits Farm, a nonprofit, Christian ministry that provides fresh, nutritious food for the hungry.

His DSP Brett Goldstein praises him as one of the hardest working volunteers there. “Mark is entrusted with many tasks at the Farm,” he said. “He is most famously known as the ‘Stack Boss’ because he is responsible for stacking and organizing all the bread loaf pallets, sometimes well over 100 pallets a day. He also boxes the bread and ensures that all the boxes are placed in a specific amount and order.”

Senior DSP Becca Lee, who also supports Mark, says “Mark is a volunteer SUPERSTAR and a bit of a goofball. He’s always making people laugh.”

He also spends a few hours each Wednesday volunteering at the ReStore Donation Center in Westminster benefitting Habitat for Humanity, and has given his time at the Hereford Library, York Food Bank and Talmar Farms in Towson, Maryland.

Mark enjoys his volunteer activities. “It feels good helping the poor and homeless who need fresh food and affordable household items.” He likes that it gets him out of the house where he can “be with people and do something productive.”

Miriam Klopcic

Miriam smiles as she prepares food in a kitchen.

has been with Penn-Mar since 2017. Her volunteer activities are frequent and varied! “Through her efforts in volunteering, she was able to land a job at Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Shrewsbury, in which she is now flourishing,” said Jessica Patchel, Day Program Manager at Penn-Mar North.

In her free time, Miriam volunteers at Life Path Christian Ministry Rescue Mission in York alongside Katrina Cooper, a former Penn-Mar employee, who works with her to serve hot lunches, bag snacks, and prepare “Oliver” meals for the homeless.

The Ministry recently honored Miriam and Katrina at a volunteer appreciation event, recognizing them for preparing 15,000 “Oliver” meals in just one year and cited Miriam’s 1,079 volunteer hours over two years.

Angie Shaffer, a Penn-Mar DSP who worked with Miriam for the past four years, said Miriam’s work is noticed by the people she volunteers with. “Miriam is very focused and diligent,” she said. “She is very independent and needs minimal prompting to complete her tasks.”

Miriam also gives her time to Grace Fellowship Church in Shrewsbury where she volunteers at their Fall Fest and Christmas breakfast held at their Dream Center, and for almost three years she has volunteered for Meals on Wheels at the Central York County Senior Center in New Freedom.

Her non-food-related volunteer activities include helping to care for rabbits at the annual York Fair in July, cuddling cats at the SPCA, and assisting with preparing Operation Christmas Child’s gift boxes to be sent to children all over the world.

“I like helping people in need,” said Miriam. “I’m happy to work hard and like being part of a team, socializing, and getting to do fun stuff.”

According to Becca Lee, Penn-Mar is always looking for new volunteer opportunities for the people we support. “The experience gives them a positive outlook on life and when they return home, they know they’ve done something important for the day.”

At the end of the day, it’s not just about the hours they give. It’s about being part of something, showing up for others, and knowing they made a difference.

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Kelly Benefits Volunteers Join Penn-Mar at First Fruits Farm

ggorham — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 21:20:50 +0000

An updated volunteer model provides a shared experience for people with IDD and corporate volunteers.

A group of people supported from Penn-Mar, DSPs, and Kelly Benefits employees pose together at First Fruits Farm.

On a gorgeous fall day, corporate volunteers from Kelly Benefits in Sparks, MD joined a group of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who Penn-Mar supports for a gratifying experience at First Fruits Farm readying potatoes for shipment to those in need.

People supported by Penn-Mar have been volunteering at the 280-acre property every week from June through November. Interns from Kelly Benefits have also volunteered at the farm in the past, but this was the first time that employees from Kelly Benefits have participated in a volunteer event on the farm with Penn-Mar.

Ben Mortenson, Volunteer Engagement Manager at First Fruits, along with his wife Carissa, Director of Programming, were both delighted to have their daughter, Morgan, a participant at Penn-Mar Central’s Day Program, included in the group.

“Everyone had a blast, and it was a gift to watch the Kelly Benefits and Penn-Mar volunteers’ team up with our staff,” Ben said. “There were lots of smiles and great energy in the way everyone worked together. Whatever the task, they were ready with open hearts to get the job done.”

Ben and Carissa Mortenson stand beside their daughter, Morgan, at the farm.

Ben started the day by educating the group about the farm’s mission to provide fresh, nutritious food for the hungry through volunteer service and community partnerships.

Founded in 1998, First Fruits has harvested and distributed 31 million pounds of its fresh produce – the equivalent of 124 million servings – to food banks, shelters, schools, churches, and other organizations throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Ben credits the farm’s success to the generosity of its 300-plus partners, many benefactors, and over 20,000 volunteers who help keep operations running and its mission sustainable.

The Penn-Mar group of 30 volunteers contributed to this mission by spending the morning transferring potatoes stored in large bins to smaller boxes where they were then loaded onto pallets for distribution to nonprofits in Tennessee and Kentucky.

All of this took place in a covered open-air barn structure where the people Penn-Mar supports worked side-by-side with Kelly Benefits volunteers. “Everybody was in great spirits and ready to work,” said Tina Chan Sweenie, Associate Director of Development and Penn-Mar’s corporate volunteer leader. “The smiles and laughter were infectious, and all the volunteers had the opportunity to learn about each other while working together which is really the most important part of our program.”

Since the inception of a formal volunteer program in 2022, Penn-Mar has not had a

traditional volunteer program with fixed weekly or monthly events. Most volunteer opportunities are based on the wants and needs of people supported. Corporate groups, like Kelly Benefits, would have only helped with projects involving landscaping and beautification in the past. However, Tina has learned that the most important parts of a volunteer event are the interactions between corporate volunteers and those we support.

Kelly Benefits employees and people supported by Penn-Mar worked side-by-side as they sorted potatoes into huge bins.

“We were looking to develop a shared experience between the people we support and our corporate volunteers,” Tina said. “The First Fruits Farm outing with Kelly Benefits was a creative solution for combining the two groups. We just loved the Kelly team. They were 100% on board for working at the farm and were eager to secure their next opportunity.”

Kelly Benefits volunteers were grateful for the opportunity to enhance Penn-Mar’s mission by working alongside the people the organization supports. Several employees from Kelly were in attendance at the farm, and everyone had positive feedback about the experience.

“At Kelly Benefits, we believe service is at the heart of strong communities,” David Kelly, President, Kelly Benefits Payroll said. “Partnering with Penn-Mar at First Fruits was a meaningful way for our team to live out that value — working alongside the people Penn-Mar supports to help feed those in need reminded us that when we serve together, we reflect the love and compassion that make our communities stronger.”

It was clear that people supported by Penn-Mar were also grateful for the opportunity to give back to their community and socialize with corporate volunteers. One person in particular impressed the group with his intense determination to expertly follow every step of the process. “He held his focus for the longest time his support team had ever seen,” Tina said.

More opportunities like volunteering at First Fruits Farm will be available to all businesses and corporate groups wishing to support Penn-Mar’s mission while giving back to the community.

“This is a ‘win-win’ opportunity,” Tina said. “The farm needs manpower for harvesting, packaging, and distribution, and it’s a great way for Penn-Mar to engage with our corporate supporters.”

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Angie Shaffer Loves Making a Difference in the Lives of the People She Supports

ggorham — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 14:58:39 +0000

“It energizes me and brings meaning to my life.”

Angie Shaffer

Angela “Angie” Shaffer first joined Penn-Mar in 2012 as a Direct Support Professional (DSP). She spent two years working in a residential setting before moving over to the Day Program where she was a DSP for a year before becoming a Community Coordinator. Angie’s extraordinary management skills were put to good use there. She created a new Day Program curriculum and developed a monthly calendar that allowed DSPs to slot in their activity preferences.

Angie also set up activity stations where participants could move from one area to another to refine their gross motor skills, seek employment training, or learn more about art, math, and reading.

After two years working in the Day Program as a Community Coordinator, Angie transitioned to the role of Program Specialist for the next four years. She handled a caseload of 28 people, handling all the responsibilities of a manager apart from having staff to manage.

In her sixth year, March 2020, she was given an offer to join the management team as a Program Manager. Angie declined the offer, knowing that her true passion was working directly with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and supporting their volunteer activities.

Chris, Alexis, and Miriam stand next to a horse in a field.

Today, Angie manages the schedules of four people supported who volunteer at a variety of local non-profit organizations.

Once a month, the group picks up and delivers meals at a Senior Center in New Freedom. Angie uses the experience to teach volunteers how to organize boxes, compare inventory against the delivery list, and practice data entry using the GPS for deliveries. Going to the Senior Center also provides opportunities for working on the group’s “people skills,” as Angie encourages them to smile and make eye contact with the seniors.

The Penn-Mar group also volunteers at Whispering Rise Farm and Animal Sanctuary in Freeland, helping care for the pigs and supporting the farm’s daily operations. Their time there is full of teamwork and connection, often ending with a shared lunch and conversation with the staff.

Angie’s group also volunteers at the annual York Fair, helping care for the rabbits and keeping their area comfortable.

“The volunteers I work with have come a long way,” Angie said. “When I first joined them, they had already been volunteering for two years, so now I work with them to build and maintain their skills. I’m so proud of all of them.”

Angie also introduced the group to “Vision Boards,” where they write down the things they want and hope to attain in their lives.

Tyler pats a pig at the pig sanctuary.

The people Angie supports are achieving their goals and living their best life every day! For example, Miriam landed her dream job by consistently performing her tasks working for Tropical Smoothie Café in Shrewsbury. Alexis embraced her love of animals which helped her obtain the perfect job taking care of dogs at Central Bark. Christopher is a kind and caring individual who has overcome many adversities and makes everyone he encounters feel welcome. Tyler does an outstanding job with the pigs at the Sanctuary and works one day a week at Mickey’s Pizza.

“I love making a difference in the lives of the people I support,” Angie said. “It energizes me and brings meaning to my life. The vision I have for my job is to expose, educate, and provide meaningful experiences. I want everyone in my group to be more active and open to possibilities. I would love to be able to take them outside York County to learn about other places and things that will inspire them to thrive and find meaning in their personal and work lives. Most of all, I want them to be happy.”

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