Volunteer Spotlight: Jim & Jeanne Earnshaw

Volunteer Spotlight: Jim & Jeanne Earnshaw
Small Actions Make a Big Impact

As part of National Volunteer Recognition Week, which is held April 21-27, 2024, we will be spotlighting a volunteer each day. Cornwall Manor is proud to recognize 352 volunteers dedicated their time and talents to Cornwall Manor throughout 2023, contributing 23,821 hours to our community.

“Giving back to others makes our community better,” states Jeanne.

Jim and Jeanne Earnshaw have been residents of Lebanon County for many years (Jeanne is a native of Lebanon County and Jim is from Chester County), raised two children, worked careers and eventually moved from North Cornwall Township to Cornwall Manor in 2017. Jeanne was an instructor for Penn State, teaching Child Support Enforcement and Jim was the Data Processing Manager/IT Support for Lebanon County. Their children attended the Cornwall Children’s Center and they are members of Immanuel United Methodist Church in Cleona.

Jim was active in Jaycees once he was out of the Navy and served as Chapter President. The Earnshaws became involved in volunteering activities through their children. Jim was a t-ball coach and Jeanne taught Sunday School classes. She was also involved in the Parents Committee for Learning Enrichment (PICKLE) for five years. She also taught a summer program in a one-room school. Through their involvement in church, they helped with social events and taught classes.

The Earnshaws became involved in Mission Central through their church in 2010. Mission Central is a large warehouse in Mechanicsburg, PA, that houses items needed in Christian mission around the world. It was founded by the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2002. Items are stored and then distributed throughout the world as the need arises. Thousands of volunteers go to Mission Central each year to help in the preparation of these supplies. While much of Mission Central’s work involves the preparation of materials used by UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, other missions are housed in the same warehouse, such as Computer Ministries and CURE, a medical supplies mission.

Mission Central currently has 20 HUBS, with locations throughout the northeastern US, where work similar to that at Mission Central can be done to expand the outreach locally. HUBs collect specific kits for delivery to Mission Central, verify that kits delivered to them so they meet UMCOR standards, and serve as collection points for a variety of items needed by the various missions that are part of Mission Central. Immanuel UMC, Cleona is a HUB of Mission Central and Jeanne has been the HUB Coordinator for Immanuel since 2010.

At Cornwall Manor, Jim volunteers his time at the Treasure Trove, was a neighborhood representative for the Residents Association (and was chairman of the committee), oversees the food collection for Lebanon County Christian Ministries for their neighborhood and coordinates the transportation for the Blooms & More Festival.

Jeanne is the Manor Shoppe Grocery Coordinator where she schedules shopping volunteers and sets prices on items for resale within a budget. The Manor Shoppe is a project of the Cornwall Manor Society and is the gift, convenience and grocery store located within Cornwall Manor’s Freeman Community Center.  She also is an active volunteer in Corson Hall Personal Care assisting with monthly birthday parties and special events like the Winter Party and Fun Fest. She also volunteers at the Blooms & More Festival by helping with the plant sale and she has been an active volunteer in the handbell choir for the last six years.

Among their busy volunteer schedule, they enjoy traveling and spending time with their grandchildren. Jim bowls in the winter time and also plays billiards.

“Staying active and keeping busy while having fun is the key to remaining engaged,” shares Jim and Jeanne. It’s evident from their multitude of involvement that their actions have a big impact on those they are serving through volunteering. We appreciate your efforts in both the Lebanon and Cornwall Manor communities.