Volunteers Give 1 Million Hours to Maryland Seniors

Imagine volunteering today and saving those hours for when you need a ride to the doctor in 20 years. That's exactly what's happening in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, where a creative solution to senior care just hit a major milestone.

Partners In Care, a volunteer network serving seniors across Maryland, celebrated 1 million volunteer hours donated in 2025 alone. More than 2,600 members made it happen by driving neighbors to appointments, catching spiders for the squeamish, and even offering professional services like plumbing and translation.

Here's what makes this different from typical volunteer work. The organization runs on a time-banking system where helpers can donate their hours to a community pool, exchange them for services they need, or bank them for future use.

A young plumber might fix a leaky faucet on Friday afternoons and add those hours to the community bank. A retiring teacher could visit homebound seniors and save her hours for when she needs transportation herself. Someone who can't drive can "pay" for rides by sending birthday cards to other members or donating items to the group's resale boutique.

Lauren Lucabaugh, director of member care, says the goal is simple. "No one should ever feel like they cannot assist. Whatever your expertise, whatever your passion, we probably have a member who needs that assistance."

The numbers show real impact. Of the million hours donated last year, more than 709,000 were served right in Anne Arundel County. The organization expects 20% growth this year as more people discover the model.

Derek Milley, director of communications, emphasized how essential volunteers are. "Volunteers drive our entire system. We cannot do what we do without them."

The Ripple Effect

This time-banking model solves two problems at once. Seniors get the help they need to stay independent and age at home. Volunteers know their generosity today creates a safety net for their own future.

It's building something rare: a community where giving and receiving aren't separate acts, but part of the same circle of care. When you help your neighbor today, you're also helping yourself tomorrow.

Partners In Care now operates in Anne Arundel County, Frederick County, and Maryland's Eastern Shore, proving the model works across different communities.

One million hours is just the beginning for a network that's redefining what it means to care for aging neighbors.