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We are thrilled to see volunteers return to serve year after year for their favorite events. Pictured above are Douglas and Angelete May, along with Tonia Davis. Our special event volunteers bring smiling faces, professional knowledge and a love for Plano to our signature gatherings across the City.
Below you will find stories of more inspiring volunteers who take time to bring their talents and expertise to service. Behind every story are teams of City staff who welcome and encourage the partnership with our community of volunteers and supporters.
With gratitude,
Corina Sadler, CVA
Volunteer Resources Manager
| | | Looking for a new volunteer opportunity? Check out the upcoming activities below. Another way adult volunteers can receive relevant recruiting information is by updating the "Interests and Causes" section of their Volunteer Portal profile. | | |
Plano Arts & Events is recruiting volunteers 18+ to support special events in Downtown Plano. Upcoming opportunities include Rest in Plano Fest on Saturday, October 24 and Dickens in Downtown Plano on Saturday December, 5.
To receive additional information, email Morgan Green-Griffin for the most up-to-date volunteer needs and next steps.
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Volunteers 18+ are needed on Thursday, January 21 from 6:45 to 11:45 pm for the City of Plano's Homeless Census (also known at the Point-in-Time or PIT Count).
Volunteers work in teams to identify individuals experiencing homelessness, conduct surveys and distribute resources. Visit the PIT Count opportunity in the Volunteer Portal for full details.
| | | Environmental Health & Sustainability | | The Environmental Health & Sustainability department was invited to the Local Good Collective to help set up their school supply store for Plano families. It was a great opportunity for this city team to come together in service and team-building. | | Plano Emergency Management | | |
The Department of Emergency Management has been honored to have an outstanding Emergency Management intern, Maya, and they share their thanks for her exemplary service and dedication to the City of Plano.
During her internship, Maya contributed more than 600 hours of service, supporting a wide range of Emergency Management initiatives and demonstrating exceptional professionalism, initiative, and commitment to public service. Maya’s hard work and willingness to jump in wherever needed have made a meaningful impact on the team and community. The department is grateful for her service and proud to recognize this outstanding achievement!
"I am deeply honored and humbled to receive this award. Serving the City of Plano’s Department of Emergency Management has been an extraordinary privilege. They provided the foundation of my career in this field, offering invaluable experiences and fundamental skills that will guide me throughout my professional journey. Through their mentorship, I developed critical emergency management capabilities, gained experience, and adopted a community-first mindset. I was also able to witness public service that was led with respect, integrity, and trust. I am incredibly grateful for this recognition, my impactful internship opportunity, and for every team member in the department." - Maya
| | This summer teen volunteers spent 730 hours shelving books across the five Plano Public Library locations. Staff organized an end of summer celebration to thank these dedicated students for their time. | | Sam Johnson Recreation Center | | |
Sam Johnson Recreation Center (SJRC) volunteers were recognized for their extraordinary service at an appreciation event hosted by SJRC staff and Volunteers in Plano.
Each year, these individuals contribute over 7,000 hours of service. They prep and serve meals at the Gazebo Café, assist at Bingo events and greet visitors at the door. The Plano Garden Club tends to the gorgeous greenery in the SJRC courtyard garden.
Anyone who walks into the building is impacted by the volunteer spirit that makes SJRC the premier destination for active older adults in Plano.
| | | The following SJRC volunteers received the Plano Mayor's Volunteer Service Award for contributing 100+ hours in 2025: Frances Allday, Mike Baldwin, Margaret Bartlett, Karen Bellessa, Jyoti Boppana, Janet Byk, Anita Chow, Jay Fry, Daisy Gan, Delia Garza, David Gillespie, Sharon Gold, Mike Holmes, Barbara Horton, Sam Jabri, Nimet Kara, Teri Korson, Jasmine Le, Debbi Mitchell, Israa Mustafa, Burt Nelson, Lori Nelson, Michael Novembrino, Kim Pickering, James Roskopf, Sharon Russell, Page Samuel, Elizabeth Sheng, Marion Tucker, Molly Usha and Lucy Wang. | | Emergency Management Exercise Volunteers | | Thank you to everyone who volunteered during the Family Assistance Center Exercise with Emergency Management. This exercise was designed to test and strengthen the City's ability to support individuals and families following a large-scale incident. Volunteers served in many roles and were key to the success of the activity. | | Thank you to volunteers from Hilton for their ongoing support of Plano Public Library programs. Pictured are employees at Harrington Library's Community Science Meetup! | | University of Texas at Dallas Students | | |
Last year, Plano Public Library partnered with Mike Saenz, Director of UTD's Student Success Center, to bring college students to Haggard Library to help local children with math homework. A short trial period made it clear that the Drop-In Math Homework Help program was a win for students, families and the community.
Since the program started, the rotating team of eight UTD students has provided on-level math support at 24 programs. Children in grades 2-8 bring current class materials for tutors to review. The tutors provide the students with the extra math help needed to build their confidence and stay on track.
“It’s really enriching to get to share my love of math with the kids and create an environment where they’re excited to learn,” coordinator of the UTD tutoring group, Amber Lee, said.
This partnership succeeds due to the shared effort of the Library, who offers space and program visibility, and the UTD students, who offer their expertise and time.
“The UTD students have been very consistent, have brought positivity and energy to the room, and have been a reliable source of assistance for struggling kids,” said Ryann Dekat, Librarian Supervisor at Haggard Library.
There are five additional Drop-In Math Homework Help programs scheduled for 2026. More details are available through the Plano Public Library’s calendar.
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