Did you know the Cumberland County Democratic Committee is powered entirely by volunteers? Our volunteers are neighbors who give their time and talents because they believe in building a stronger community and protecting our democracy.
From making phone calls and knocking on doors to staffing community events, writing postcards, organizing meetings, managing social media, and supporting candidates, every success we achieve is made possible by people who choose to get involved.
The good news is that no one has to do everything. If everyone does a little, together we accomplish a lot. Whether you have an hour a month or a few hours each week, there is a place for you on our team.
Join us today and do your part to protect our democracy, elect leaders who share our values, and help build a brighter future for Cumberland County. Fill out our volunteer survey HERE and let's get busy doing the work to win the midterms!
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT - KATHLEEN GORAK
I moved to Carlisle in 2008 and jumped into volunteering with the Obama campaign as soon as my boxes were unpacked. With each successive election cycle, I learned more about local politics by working with Cumberland County Democratic Committee and Carlisle Area Democratic Committee. Soon, recruiter extraordinaire Carole DeWall suggested I consider stepping into a leadership role as Co-Precinct Committee Person in Carlisle 3-3. Then - in for a penny, in for a pound - I also became Carlisle Co-Area Leader with Wendy Whitesell last year.
As a Detroit union baby, I grew up in a household where adult conversation centered around politics. My father's leadership role in his local union demonstrated that individuals committed to collective action can bring about substantive change.
As for me, my first sit-in was in 6th grade to protest the inequitable treatment of girls in gym class. High school found me working through the school system leadership chain to successfully gain access to the automotive class, previously only open to boys. After that, I was on to Ann Arbor and midnight campus Take Back the Night marches, then to Washington for reproductive rights, and so on.
I believe my parents would have been very proud of my volunteer work with the Democratic Party. They lived through the Depression and never lost sight of the fact that Democrats enacted the social safety net programs that helped them survive. Today, I continue my work with the Democrats with the foundational belief that government can and should work for the good of all its citizens.
Kathleen Gorak
Do you want to help Democrats win this November? Become a Precinct Committee Person (PCP)—one of the most important grassroots volunteer roles in Cumberland County.
Every one of our 118 voting precincts can have two PCPs, and we still have openings across the county. PCPs are the foundation of our party, helping connect with neighbors, organize locally, and build the voter turnout that wins elections.
PRECINCT COMMITTEE PERSON
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT - CHARLIE WILSON
Politics was in my DNA. Members of my mother's Maryland family served in the State Senate and House of Delegates. My Iowa grandfather was a union organizer. I joined the college Young Democrats my freshman year and kept going.
While living in Baltimore I belonged to a group led by Barbara Mikulski (later a U.S. Senator) which helped stop the building of an expressway where Fells Point (Baltimore's oldest neighborhood) stands.
In the 1970s I was campaign manager for a local congressional candidate. Following that was a 27-year stint with the Pennsylvania Senate. I moved to Harrisburg, became a committeeman and in the 1980s served two terms on the Harrisburg School Board.
Twenty-five years ago the West Shore became home again. Luckily Jim Hertzler connected me with Gail McDermott, Cumberland County Democratic Committee Chair, and there was an opening in my precinct.
Since then I have enjoyed helping Commissioner Foschi and others run for office, served as Camp Hill area leader, helped recruit candidates, and worked on Get Out The Vote (GOTV) and registration.
Charlie Wilson has served as a Precinct Committee Person for 45 years - 22 of those in Cumberland County!
CALLS TO ACTION
Help represent the Cumberland County Democratic Committee at India Day! Volunteers will greet attendees, share information about Democratic candidates and upcoming elections, answer questions, and help register voters and recruit volunteers.
Your time will make a difference. Join us as we connect with our community, celebrate India's rich cultural heritage, and help build momentum for victory this November!
Join the Cumberland County Democratic Committee and Jean Foschi for an evening of conversation, community, and action as we raise critical funds for Democratic candidates for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Think what it would mean if Democrats broke the Republicans' 32-year stranglehold on the state Senate. Think if Democrats increased our majority in the state House. PA could --
- Raise wages, beginning with a higher minimum wage.
- Make child care more affordable.
- Make staying healthy more affordable.
- Make every public school as good as the best public schools.
- Stop compromising our environment and neighborhoods so that monster corporations can shove data centers down our throats.
We can do it, and you can help.
Donating to your Cumberland County Democratic Party strengthens candidates in historically tough districts. Our candidates are battle-tested and working hard, but they still need our help.
Together, we can win and put Democratic values at the center of everything that happens in the Capitol.
Every contribution strengthens the campaigns that will shape the direction of our Commonwealth. We hope you'll join us and invest in the local races that matter most.
An Invitation from Jessica St Clair:
Follow Your Township's News
Some of the most important decisions affecting our daily lives are made not in Harrisburg or Washington, but in township buildings right here in Cumberland County. Zoning changes, land development, water and sewer questions, road projects: these all start at local meetings that most of us never hear about until it's too late to weigh in.
I saw this firsthand in Middlesex Township, where the PAX-1 data center project has been pushed forward on a compressed timeline that has raised serious procedural concerns among residents. Neighbors who were paying attention caught it.
I'd love your help. If you're a PCP or volunteer, you can keep an eye on your own township by tracking a few simple things:
- When meetings happen. Note the days and times for your board of supervisors, planning commission, zoning hearing board, and other public bodies.
- What's on the agenda. Agendas are posted in advance, usually on the township website. A quick scan tells you what's coming.
- What the minutes say. After each meeting, review the minutes for anything relevant that was discussed or decided.
When you spot something worth attention, whether it's a development proposal, a budget question, or an issue your neighbors care about, pass it along. It helps all of us stay informed, and it helps candidates know where to show up, listen, and build connections with neighbors and local officials across Cumberland County.
Local government works best when neighbors are watching, and it only takes a few minutes a month. If you'd like to adopt your township, reach out and we'll get you started together.
Jessica St Clair, candidate for PA House District 87
Mark your calendar and come out and join CCDC and our slate of candidates to kick the 2026 midterms into high gear. Watch this space for details and sign-up info coming soon!
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We are the Democratic Party of Cumberland County.
We are working year-round to elect Democrats to positions of power at every level of government.
Your contributions help us organize, train and mobilize the 64,000 Democrats in Cumberland County from Shippensburg to Camp Hill and everywhere in between.
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