Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced Howard County has been designated JustServe’s first “JustServe County” East of the Rocky Mountains. This designation is extended to recognize county-wide partnership and leadership in community volunteerism. Photos from the award presentation can be found on Howard County Government’s Flickr website.
Here in Howard County, we are committed to promoting the power of volunteerism and emphasizing that it’s not just a duty, but a source of personal fulfillment that strengthens communities, builds new friendships, and allows us to better understand one another. In being declared JustServe’s first ‘JustServe County’ East of the Rocky Mountains, and becoming a part of this global volunteerism movement, we will be able to further empower our community members to spread hope, goodness, and unity and promote positive change in our community by donating their time through volunteering.
JustServe is a free, community-wide online platform – website and app – where nonprofits, schools, faith groups, and government agencies can post real volunteer projects for anyone in the community to find. The platform was created and is maintained by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a public service and offered at no cost to organizations and volunteers of any background or belief.
Like its JustServe City Program, the nonprofit’s growing JustServe County Program provides local governments with support to boost volunteerism in their communities. A designated “JustServe County”is a county that has formally committed itself to promoting and supporting volunteerism and creating a culture of service. This past June, Ball took the first step in having Howard County, Maryland declared a JustServe County by signing an Executive Proclamation declaring June 13, 2026, “JustServe Day” in Howard County.
Service, our sharing of the load someone else carries, increases our personal capacity to love, extends healing hope, and lifts all involved,” said , . “We are grateful to County Executive Ball for his leadership in fostering service in our communities.
History of JustServe
Launched in February 2012 as a localized effort to help individuals make volunteering a way of life, JustServe has since grown into a global movement available in 17 countries across North and South America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Since its inception, more than one million people have signed up on JustServe, with more than 124,000 new volunteers joining this impactful movement each year.
From feeding the hungry to writing handmade letters for older adults, stitching handmade quilts, serving as a local disaster response volunteer, or being a hospice volunteer, JustServe works with nearly 20,000 partnering organizations to offer more than 34,000 new projects yearly where participants can lend a helping hand and improve the lives of community members.
While Howard County is the first JustServe County East of the Rocky Mountains, the county joins fellow Maryland cities: Annapolis, Brunswick, Frederick, Hagerstown, Middletown, New Carrollton, and Takoma Park, who have all earned the “JustServe City” designation.
Additionally, Governor Wes Moore was awarded the JustServe Hero Award in June 2026 for his exceptional leadership in advancing volunteerism across Maryland. The Governor launched the JustServe platform across Maryland and initiated the Service Year Option Program aimed at encouraging graduating high school seniors to engage in community service. The Governor is also well known for his efforts to encourage service and for saying, “Service will save us!”