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Tuesday, 14 April 2026
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Written by Lisa Hughes
For nearly 58 years, the Cumberland County Council on Older Adults has been committed to helping seniors maintain independence with dignity. Through home and community-based supportive services, we strive to ensure that seniors remain healthy, safe, and connected within their homes and community.
At the center of this mission are our volunteers- the heart, soul, hands, and feet of so many of our programs. Their contributions extend far beyond service; they bring companionship, empathy, and a human connection that cannot be replicated. Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver nutritious meals while providing meaningful social connection and essential safety checks. Community Caregiving Circle volunteers connect to seniors experiencing isolation and loneliness through friendly phone calls and in-home visits, offering reassurance and a sense of belonging. Home Improvement volunteers lend their skills to build wheelchair ramps, helping older adults safely enter and exit their homes. Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program volunteers help seniors understand their Medicare options, minimizing costs while maximizing access to essential benefits.
We are proud to have nearly 200 regular volunteers who collectively provided more than 6,000 hours of service in the last fiscal year alone. These numbers reflect not only commitment, but a powerful community of individuals dedicated to making a difference in the lives of older adults.
Our story began nearly six decades ago, seeking to better understand the needs of seniors in our community, collaborate with partners who shared our vision, and build meaningful connections between volunteers and those in need. The “You Are Needed” campaign emerged from that vision. Today, that message still resonates. The need remains, as does the impact. We would not be able to touch the lives of so many older adults without the dedication of our volunteers. They are not just supporters of our mission, but essential to it.
Each April, during National Volunteer Appreciation Month, we pause to recognize the extraordinary volunteers who give their time, compassion, and energy to strengthen our community. We are excited to celebrate our volunteers this month with a special event in their honor. The celebration will include thank you gifts, prizes generously donated by amazing community partners, and a shared meal and opportunity for connection with each other. Volunteers will also have the chance to engage with elected officials and leadership from United Way, recognizing the collective impact of service and community collaboration.
As we celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Month, we extend our deepest gratitude to those who continue to answer the call. Your kindness fuels our work, your generosity uplifts our community, and your commitment ensures that dignity and independence remain within reach for every senior we serve.
If you feel inspired to make a difference, we invite you to join us. Those interested in volunteering with the Council on Older Adults can reach out to request more information at www.ccccooa.org or by calling 910-484-0111. Together, we can continue building a stronger, more compassionate community for older adults.
This April, and every day, we celebrate you- our amazing volunteers.
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Tuesday, 14 April 2026
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Written by Aly Hansen
All American Week is a long standing tradition with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. This year's festivities were set to run from May 18-21 and would include combatives and sports contests, a Division review, and the ever inspiring Division run.
This year, however, All American Week has been cancelled. In a social media post, the 82nd Airborne Division stated, "Regrettably, the 82nd Airborne Division’s All American Week 2026 is canceled. All American Week will resume in 2027, and we look forward to hosting our veterans, community partners, and supporters of the 82nd Airborne Division next year. Thank you for your unwavering support and service to the All American legacy."
All American Week is hosted by the 82nd Airborne Division Association. The association helps to maintain a bond between current and past airborne forces in the military. They set up scholarships for active duty soldiers and their families and support the 82nd Airborne Division Memorial Museum.
The Association issued a statement saying, "Due to operation requirements for our beloved 82nd Airborne Division and ongoing global developments, the decision has been made to cancel All American Week ... this decision was not made lightly. During this time, we will shift our focus to supporting our active duty paratroopers, their families and working closely with Division leadership on follow-on event planning."
Those who have already paid their registration fees for events during All American Week 2026 can ask for a full refund, or they can donate the fees to support Division deployment and family support programs.
Stars and Stripes reported on April 2 that hundreds of soldiers, including Maj. Gen. Brandon Tegtmeier, commanding general of the Division, have been sent to "undisclosed locations in the Middle East in recent days." Operation Epic Fury was launched on Feb. 28.
Thirteen service members have been killed since the operation's launch, and a US fighter jet was shot down before Easter weekend. Both airmen have been rescued by Special Forces.
The 82nd Airborne Division Association is looking ahead to 2027, when they say they'll hold All American Week again. In the meantime, they will be working to support the 82nd Airborne Division and their families.
(Photo: Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division participate in the Division Run as part of All American Week at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, May 19, 2025. US Army photo by Spc. Roberto Archila, courtesy of Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
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