The Junior League of Williamsport is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting community service, while empowering women in their personal and professional endeavors.

The Williamsport branch was founded in 1929, and has been a member of the worldwide Association of Junior Leagues International Incorporated (AJLI) since its inception.

The organization is dedicated to creating positive and lasting change in the greater Williamsport and Lycoming County area by focusing on social activism that directly benefits the community, most-recent past President and nine-year member Melissa Kelley explained, adding that the organization’s purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

“We’re looking to empower women of all ages to become leaders by providing meaningful leadership opportunities and the tools to put those skills to work within any aspect of their lives,” she said.

A Williamsport native and graduate, Kelley became involved with the organization after moving back to the area following the completion of her master’s degree.

“I wanted to get involved in community service again because community involvement and service were always something super important to me throughout my upbringing,” she said.

“When we support those in need, it helps us strengthen our community. It fosters compassion, teamwork, a sense of responsibility and building strong leaders also helps to guide others, because you never know what kind of impact you’re going to make on somebody else,” Kelley said.

As a youth, Kelley received her Girl Scout Gold Award, and was involved with various organizations throughout her high school years, including Key Club.

While attending Penn State, she was heavily involved with Thon, the largest student-run philanthropy that raises money for kids with pediatric cancer, including a stint as chair.

During her senior year, she was captain for Donor and Alumni Relations, helping to oversee fundraising efforts of all student-run organizations.

The league offers leadership and community service opportunities to women 21 and above.

“We’ve had people come in and do leadership trainings with us from outside organizations, and we try to send members to local conferences, like the Women’s Empowerment Conference through the YWCA, and others,” Kelley said.

“The Junior League as a whole, also has different types of leadership training conferences throughout the year, and through our fundraising efforts, we try to send members to some of those,” she added.

“Within our organization, we have our board, our president, president-elect, treasurer, secretary and community VP, and then we also have a sustaining advisor that’s someone who has been in the league for a very long time, maybe was involved in past leadership and helps to answer any questions and guide our board,” Kelley said, adding that various committees carry out duties from fundraising to membership and community engagement.

“We always encourage members to step into leadership positions even if they haven’t had any experience before because we are a training organization, and how else are you going to learn and step outside your comfort zone,” she said.

In terms of community service, the organization has three focus areas: food security, mental health and wellness and literacy.

One of their most prevalent initiatives is Code Red Period, started in fall 2024, which works to provide feminine hygiene products to 16 schools throughout the county.

The organization recently wrapped up its Period Poverty Awareness Week, which saw the participation of many local businesses, acting as drop-off locations.

“We also have an Amazon wish list that people can also donate through,” Kelley said.

“In terms of food security, we have Kids in the Kitchen, which we do through Firetree Place, and it teaches local kids how to cook easy meals for themselves and their families,” she added.

“Our third initiative that was started in the spring of 2025 is our Baby’s First Book,” Kelley explained.

“We partnered with Otto’s Bookstore and UPMC, with the goal of promoting and encouraging reading from birth, family bonding and the importance of those early pre-literacy skills,” she said.

Through that partnership, the bag that goes home with new parents includes a book for the baby, along with a Spanish-language book and literacy information for parents on reading to children and ways to promote literacy.

Other community organizations the league has partnered with include Kids First Friday, Red Shield Community Garden, YWCA Boutique, Thrive International Programs and local food banks to name a few.

Kelley stressed that the organization is always looking for new recruits willing to step out of their comfort zone and try new opportunities.

“Even the smallest contributions of time and effort can make a meaningful difference, and we really embrace teamwork, collaboration, and new ideas, because there is a lot of cross communication amongst our board and our various committees in order to work on all of our initiatives,” she stressed.

“Sometimes we have people come into our league who might be more shy or timid, but we encourage them to take advantage of leadership and training opportunities to help step outside their comfort zone and learn new skills. Understanding our mission of service and community impact is truly what makes the experience so rewarding,” she said.

Kelley said what makes the Junior League of Williamsport so important is the impact their initiatives have right in their local communities.

“It’s bringing women together from very diverse backgrounds who are making a positive impact, and helping develop women’s leadership skills through hands-on training, work, committees and community involvement,” she said.

“We’re also supporting local nonprofits, organizations and initiatives through our partnerships, even through our fundraising and our volunteer efforts, it creates opportunities for us to grow personally and professionally, while also giving back to others,” Kelley added, adding that the strong sense of connection among members often creates lasting friendships.

“It also encourages a culture of service, compassion and leadership throughout the greater Williamsport area. A lot of us are young women who have children, so it sets a positive example for them. Sometimes people will bring their kids to some of the community service things, and that’s empowering the youth as well,” she added.

As part of that empowerment effort, Kelley said the league is working to integrate an initiative by the AJLI known as Every Woman. All Things. in a club-style format into local schools.

In 2026, the league began offering a scholarship opportunity at Williamsport High School.

“It’s an amount of money that will go to a female college-bound senior who encompasses our values of community service leadership and what the Junior League is all about,” Kelley explained.

With the Junior League’s 97th year coming to a close, preparations are underway for some type of celebration and community acknowledgement of their upcoming 100th anniversary, Kelley said.

For more information on, or to become a member of the Junior League of Williamsport, keep an eye out for their upcoming summer recruitment events or check out their website at www.williamsport.jl.org.