UPPER SAUCON TWP., Pa. – It’s a matchup where corporate expertise meets community need.
Tuesday night, the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley celebrated the results of its Annual Volunteer Challenge, a program that pairs local businesses with nonprofits.
For the last few months, local businesses have been working to give local nonprofits permanent upgrades. It’s all part of the Volunteer Center’s Volunteer Challenge.
Yasainee Burton, the United Way community school coordinator, said partners at Alloy 5 Architecture transformed a cramped staff lounge at Roosevelt Elementary into the “Teddytown Den.”
“They came in with their little laser measure things, and they had everything down pat,” Burton said. “They were able to knock out our staff lounge in two days. They did the painting on one Saturday, and then they finished the whole project; furniture, everything. It’s a beautiful thing to see a community partner come in and create such a beautiful space knowing that it’s for a good reason. It gets used every day.”
It’s one of the 40 projects celebrated Tuesday night at DeSales University, marking the 17th year of the challenge.
“We really can help make that difference because the nonprofits don’t always have the deep bench or the money to do these things,” said Jody King, honorary chair of the 2026 Volunteer Challenge. “So, we really can do these sustainable projects for them. And the impact is overwhelming. It truly is.”
As the People’s Choice and Small Business awards were handed out, the numbers told the real story.
“This year marks 398 projects that have been done. And so, we have about 160 nonprofits that have participated with us and about 120 businesses that come out,” Volunteer Center CEO Karen Smith said.
“It just shows how giving people are and how much of an impact each one project can have on the whole community,” King added.