During a recognition reception Wednesday at the home, 50 volunteers who contributed a collective 3,180 volunteer hours to the veterans home were recognized for their efforts.

In addition, 39 service organizations were recognized for contributing 2,010 volunteer hours at off-campus events and trips hosting the home’s residents.

Volunteers do various things for the home each year, ranging from working in the canteens to transporting residents to events, according to Emily McDowell, volunteer services coordinator.

This year, Debi Humm, who logged 187 service hours in 2024, received the volunteer of the year award. The American Legion Auxiliary Department of Pennsylvania received the service organization of the year award.

Maj. Gen. John R. Pippy, Adjutant General for Veterans Affairs, speaks during the Hollidaysburg Veterans Home 43rd Annual Volunteer Recognition Ceremony on Wednesday afternoon. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

McDowell said Humm has been a dedicated volunteer for the home for nearly seven years. She runs the canteen in MacArthur Hall, helps at bingos and volunteers at special events, like the center’s annual carnival.

“Debi is a friendly and reassuring presence for our residents, and as an Air Force veteran herself, understands the importance of showing our veterans in long-term care that they are appreciated and not forgotten,” McDowell said.

Humm said she served in the Air Force from 1971-85 and “it means everything to me” to volunteer at the home and to have received recognition for her efforts. She volunteers five hours every Friday to work in the canteen and visit with other veterans.

“The camaraderie is unbelievable,” Humm said. “Unless you are a veteran, it’s hard for you to understand how much it means to be helping another veteran. That’s what we all did. We help each other.”

Humm said she became friends with another Air Force veteran through crocheting together.

“That’s how we met. Now we visit every week with each other,” she said.

According to McDowell, the American Legion Auxiliary Department of Pennsylvania was founded in 1919 and has nearly 1 million members from all walks of life.

The auxiliary administers hundreds of volunteer programs, gives tens of thousands of hours to its communities and veterans and raises millions to support its own programs and worthwhile charities, McDowell said.

McDowell said the auxiliary has supported the veterans home in countless ways, including volunteer hours in canteens, donating funds for special events and purchasing items needed by residents — clothing, shoes, electric razors, wireless headphones or other special request items.

In addition, she said, the American Legion Auxiliary helped the center bring back the Poppy Program to MacArthur Hall, where residents have the opportunity to make crepe paper poppies to earn a small amount of supplemental income.

Jeanne Conkle, who serves as the Hollidaysburg Veterans Home representative for the auxiliary, said she wasn’t aware she’d be accepting the award until Wednesday morning.

“It’s paying off what we do,” Conkle said of the recognition. “It’s nice to know that we’re appreciated.”

During the ceremony, Dambeck said this year is an exciting one for the Hollidaysburg Veterans Home because Lightner Hall, a state-of-the-art community living center with a capacity of 200 residents, will open for a recognition survey in November.

After an automatic transfer switch is received in October, 20 residents will be moved to Lightner Hall in the third week of November so the recognition survey can be completed, she said.

“The staff are diligently working on making this transition as smooth as possible,” Dambeck said.

McDowell said there’s always a need for volunteers at the veterans home and those who are interested can call the volunteer services office at 814-696-5371.