WCA Community Volunteer Expo 2025

By Linda Hyde, WCA Board Member and Community Volunteer Expo Coordinator

The WCA Community Volunteer Expo is one of the highlights of season. This much-anticipated annual event provides members of the Women’s Cultural Alliance (WCA), as well as members of our larger community, with the opportunity to learn how they can “give back” and support our Greater Naples community by introducing them to nonprofits that rely on volunteers to carry out their mission.

WCA’s third annual Community Volunteer Expo was held on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center. This signature event brought together 25 local nonprofit agencies from Southwest Florida, each showcasing its mission to more than 115 WCA members and their guests.

Many WCA Volunteers helped to make the Volunteer Expo run smoothly.

Five agencies participated in the Expo for the first time this year: AmeriCorps of Collier County, CHADD of Collier County (which provides education and support to people and parents with ADHD), Habitat for Humanity Collier County, Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center and the Naples Historical Society. Each agency had a table to display information about the organization, photos and other materials. WCA members walked around the tables, stopping to speak to representatives of agencies they wanted to learn more about.

I was delighted with how many people signed up to volunteer. There was so much interest in looking for volunteer opportunities that at least three of the agencies set up tours for potential volunteers to visit their sites.

After speaking with representatives from Alliance for Period Supplies of SWFL, WCA member Nancy Kahn was so moved by the agency’s mission, she pulled out her checkbook and made a donation on the spot! Kahn later shared with me that within days of having made the donation, she received a thank-you note from the agency that not only thanked her for her gift, but also described how each dollar of her donation was going to be spent.

WCA Members Fran Grossman and Rhonda Marko spoke with Jewish Federation of Greater Naples Director of Development Alicia Feldman (on far left)

WCA member Yvonne Holtzman, WCA Foodies Liaison Lea Bendes and Dolores Siok of Café of Life

As the event’s coordinator, I received several thank you notes from both agencies and participants, with several of the nonprofits wanting to reserve a spot at next year’s Expo.

There is a Hebrew phrase, tikkun olam, that means “repairing the world.” This concept has evolved over nearly 2,000 years of Jewish thought and practice and has been used by many organizations in working toward human rights, ending poverty, alleviating hunger and aiding refugees and other people. This central principle is what motivates many WCA members to give of their time and talent. Volunteering is giving back to the community and the desire to do so is what fosters this event and makes it so successful.

A special thank you to WCA Director of Event Management Ann Cowan and all the other volunteers who contributed to the success of the Expo. Jewish Federation of Greater Naples’ new home, the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center, provided a perfect venue for the event. Much appreciation to Jewish Federation of Greater Naples for not only providing the beautiful space, but also for the staff’s assistance, which added to the day’s successful outcome. “It takes a village,” and we certainly have one of the best in WCA.

I am already looking forward to the 2026 Community Volunteer Expo, when we will have the opportunity to showcase our returning nonprofit agencies and welcome new ones. They share their mission and their goals, and we provide the volunteers. Truly a winning combination!

Special thanks to Linda Hyde for coordinating this very special event. Thank you also to Susan Pittelman for helping to write this article.

Louise Forman, Minda Bernberg and Ann Cowan volunteered at the Expo

Volunteer Services Manager Deborah Lageman and WCA Member Phyllis Barolsky represented Baker Senior Center.

Event Coordinator Linda Hyde with Guadalupe Center Community and Volunteer Engagement Manager Elizabeth Cuevas and WCA Director of Event Management Ann Cowan

Participating Agencies at the 2025 WCA Volunteer Expo

Thank you to these nonprofit organizations for all you do to strengthen our community.

Alliance for Period Supplies of SWFL AmeriCorps

Baker Senior Center Naples Bikes for Tykes

Boys & Girls Club of Collier County Café of Life

CHADD of Collier County Champions for Learning Collier County Guardian ad Litem Program

Conservancy of Southwest Florida

Grace Place for Children and Families

Guadalupe Center

Habitat for Humanity Collier County

Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center

Humane Society Naples

The Immokalee Foundation

Interfaith Alliance of Southwest Florida Jewish Federation of Greater Naples Lighthouse of Collier Naples Historical Society

Neighborhood Health Clinic Pace Center for Girls STARability

Youth Haven: SWFL Youth Shelter