Our Purpose
Our purpose is to inspire a more engaged community by helping people find their purpose and act on it.
Our Vision
Our vision is to transform the world by cultivating volunteers and enabling leaders in the South Plains.
Our Mission
Our mission is to connect, empower, and transform the community through purposeful volunteerism and leadership development.
The Volunteer Center of Lubbock was first established in 1990 to connect volunteers with community needs and to provide nonprofit management assistance to area nonprofit organizations. When you ask us what we do, we will tell you we are in the business of community engagement. When you ask us why, we will tell you that we believe a more engaged community has the potential to transform the world. Our work is made possible due to our history of strong collaborative partnerships. We strive to keep a close relationship with our 100+ Agency Partners in order to build a culture of service throughout the South Plains. Beyond that, we strive to develop the next generation of leaders through our partnerships with 40 area middle and high schools, as well as through service and leadership programming specifically geared towards youth and young professionals.
We are committed to developing high performing teams in all areas of our community, whether for profit, nonprofit, or otherwise. We also work to obtain and sustain partnerships with local organizations and businesses in an effort to help the entire community grow and flourish. We are affiliated with the Lubbock Area United Way, Texas Association of Volunteer Centers, Nonprofit Management Association of Texas, Board Source, and Hands On Network. These collaborations provide wide access to information and resources dealing with volunteerism and nonprofit management. In 2020, the Volunteer Center of Lubbock provided services to over 50,000 people across the South Plains.
Our Team
Emily Smith
Interim Executive Director
Emily graduated with a Public Relations degree from the University of Central Oklahoma, and has called Lubbock home since 2008. She is married to Scott, who’s in the mortgage business, and she has a lively crew with their kids: Gray, Mac, Ryder, and our grown-up bunch, Bryce, Montine, Alyssa, and Zach.
Emily has been with the Volunteer Center on and off since 2009 and rejoined the team in 2024, and she couldn’t be happier to turn her passion for volunteering into her day job! Before that, she spent 9 years building a real estate business.When she is not working she is busy with PTA board duties, traveling, enjoying great food, or just hanging out with her favorite people.
Kayla Thrasher
Communications and Operations
Kayla was born and raised in Lubbock. After graduating from Coronado High School, she went on to get her degree at Texas Tech University. There she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Electronic Media and Communication. Kayla started as an intern at the Volunteer Center, and now works full time doing all things communications and operations. As a Lubbock native, she is excited to give back to the city and help it thrive.
In her down time, Kayla enjoys traveling and all things outdoors with her husband, Brandt, and her dog, Colt.
Hanne-Lise Parker
Engagement Director
Hanne-Lise grew up in Austin & came to Lubbock after highschool to attend Texas Tech University. She has deep roots in West Texas. Her Great Grandfather, Dr. M.C. Overton moved to Lubbock in 1901 - where he would be one of the first physicians in the area. She met her husband Jay & they moved a couple times before returning to Lubbock in 2010 and made Lubbock their forever home. Since then she's been involved in several volunteer programs including The Junior League of Lubbock and National Charity League. PTA is a BIG passion of Hanne-Lise & she has served in many roles including President of all three schools that her kiddos have attended. When she's not at work you will find her cheering on her daughter and son from the stands, rooting for the Red Raiders or sitting on a beach!
Max Kinser
Social Media Assistant
Hello! My name is Max Kinser, and I'm a sophomore journalism major at the University of Texas at Austin. I was born and raised in Lubbock and graduated from Coronado High School in 2023. I am a social media assistant at the Volunteer Center, so I help to make posts to tell the stories of our community and to boost engagement. I love getting to work close to volunteering and keeping a foot in my hometown. I also love to spend time with friends and family, play basketball and listen to music.
Cesar Garcia
Engagement Intern
Hi, my name is Cesar Garcia, and I’m a senior at Coronado High School. I began my journey with the Volunteer Center as a freshman, joining Youth for Impact. Over the years, I've had the privilege of serving in various roles, including School Representative, Project Coordinator, and now President. I’ve also been a member of HYPE. Volunteering is something I’m passionate about because it allows me to meet new people and build meaningful connections with the individuals I help. In my free time, I enjoy playing instruments, spending time with friends, and exploring new ideas out of curiosity.
Our Board of Directors
Brandi Price
Atmos Energy
President
Wyatt Leavell
Victory Bank
Past President
Cory Powell
TTU Office of Campus Access & Engagement
Vice President
Jon Mark Bernal
TTU Student Union & Activities
Treasurer
