Wilmington Declares 2026 the Year of Volunteers
- Feb 9
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
A Local Commitment to a Global Vision
In a landmark proclamation, the City of Wilmington has formally recognized 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development aligning our community with a global movement that elevates the role of volunteerism in building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable societies.
This designation, passed by the Wilmington City Council, acknowledges the United Nations’ decision to proclaim 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026) through UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/78/127. The resolution underscores volunteerism as a powerful means of accelerating progress toward the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and calls on nations, cities, organizations, and communities around the world to recognize and support volunteers and volunteer-led action in all its forms. (UN Volunteers)
What makes this proclamation especially meaningful? It didn't come from the top down. It came from right here – from The Volunteer Leadership Lab. I wrote this proclamation and submitted it to the City on behalf of our community's nonprofits, volunteers, and residents. The City reviewed it, refined it, and presented it back as an official declaration. That process itself is a testament to what civic engagement looks like when everyday people take initiative.
What the Proclamation Says
Wilmington’s Proclamation: Values in Action
The Wilmington declaration ties volunteerism directly to our city's most pressing priorities – community resilience, housing stability, educational opportunity, environmental stewardship, health and well-being, and workforce development. These aren't abstract goals. They are the lived realities that volunteers across Wilmington address every single day.
The proclamation also points toward tangible next steps: shared engagement platforms, strategic volunteer coordination, and the development of a Wilmington Volunteer Impact Report – a data-driven tool to help our city better understand, invest in, and celebrate the power of volunteer service. More on that below.
Volunteerism in Action: Seeds of Change at the Diversity Garden
You don't have to look far to see what this proclamation is really about.
Right here at the corner of Castle and 11th streets, the Community Harvest Diversity Garden is growing far more than food. As featured in a beautiful recent piece by WILMA Magazine, this volunteer-run community garden – managed by pediatric nurse and dedicated volunteer Bettina Masschaele – is a living example of what intentional, community-centered service looks like.
The lot spans about one-fourth of an acre and includes twelve raised beds, a greenhouse, and two picnic tables, producing collards, broccoli, kale, peas, strawberries, blueberries, and herbs like cilantro, parsley, and oregano – all freely available to community members.
But the real harvest is the human connection. Masschaele regularly donates fruits, vegetables, and herbs to the Northside Food Co-op's bimonthly community dinners, and partners with Dreams Center for Arts Education, donating bags of vegetables for use in their cooking classes. Williston Middle School's Garden Club volunteers at the garden twice per week during warmer months, and volunteers with the Roasted Bookery's Garden Club help tend and care for the space – bringing together volunteers of all ages around shared purpose.
"With a community garden, it's amazing how many people you get to meet," Masschaele says. "I've met a lot of good friends by being part of the garden."
This is exactly the kind of volunteer leadership we celebrate at The Volunteer Leadership Lab – where service creates not just impact, but relationships and resilience. A huge shoutout to Bettina for planting seeds, literally and figuratively, across our community. (Read the full WILMA Magazine feature here.)
Why Wilmington Celebrates 2026 Year of Volunteers
At The Volunteer Leadership Lab, we envision a Wilmington where intentional, structured volunteer engagement strengthens the social bonds that make our city thrive, and we see 2026 as a pivotal moment to fuel that vision.
Volunteerism is a foundational strategy for community well-being. When volunteerism becomes part of Wilmington’s identity, individuals benefit through increased connection, purpose, and even health outcomes; nonprofits expand capacity and strengthen community advocacy; and our city as a whole becomes more unified and resilient.
For Wilmington, this global recognition presents an opportunity to reflect on the power of volunteering in our own backyard. Our city’s volunteers are vital forces in disaster response, educational support programs, environmental protection initiatives, public health campaigns, and more – often stepping in before formal systems can mobilize. This grassroots generosity not only improves lives but strengthens the social fabric that makes Wilmington a thriving, resilient community.
The Volunteer Impact Report: Coming in 2027
One of the most exciting outcomes embedded in this proclamation is the development of an Annual Volunteer Impact Report – a project I'm actively building under The Volunteer Leadership Lab, currently in the planning stages with strategic partners coming on board.
Throughout 2026, my goal is to engage organizations and residents through surveys and focus groups to capture the true scope of volunteer impact across our city – then release the first report in 2027. This data will help nonprofits, funders, and city leaders better understand, invest in, and celebrate the power of volunteer service in Wilmington.
If your organization wants to be part of shaping this report, I want to hear from you.
Your Call to Action
This is your moment to be part of something bigger than our city limits.
Share the proclamation on social media and pair it with a story about how your volunteers are making a measurable difference in community resilience, housing stability, educational opportunity, environmental stewardship, health and well-being, or workforce development. Use it as an opportunity to celebrate the people on your team who show up, do the work, and make Wilmington better.
Tag us. Tag Wilmington. Let's build a chorus of stories that shows the world what volunteerism looks like in the Port City.
Keep Reading
Want to go deeper on what makes volunteerism so essential to Wilmington's future?
These two recent articles connect directly to the themes of this proclamation – don't miss them:
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