February 25, 2026
Community Giving Foundation: Danville will honor two recipients with the 2026 “Neighbor of the Year Award” in honor of Robert N. Pursel on Saturday, April 11th during the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Event. The event committee is pleased to announce Kathleen McQuiston and Good Samaritan Mission as the 2026 recipients for their example of generosity and community service.
Kathleen McQuiston
Kathleen McQuiston earned an MS in Library and Information Studies from Drexel University in 1987. In 1993, she and her husband moved to Riverside, where they made their home. With a career spanning nearly four decades as a librarian, including 24 years at Bertrand Library at Bucknell, she transitioned to her current role as Director of the Thomas Beaver Free Library in July 2018. “While I loved working in higher education, I jumped at the chance to focus all my energy directly serving the people in my home community,” she explained. Under her leadership, the Thomas Beaver Free Library has strengthened its position as a vital community hub where people can connect, learn, and grow.
McQuiston’s commitment to the community extends beyond the library. She serves on the board of the Montour County Historical Society, where she works to preserve and share the area’s rich heritage for future generations. She also serves on the board of the Danville Business Alliance, working with others to create a vibrant community, and is a member of DBA’s Economic Vitality Committee as well as the planning group for the Danville Heritage Festival.
McQuiston is also an active member of the Rotary Club of Danville. “Rotary gives me the opportunity to work alongside other community members who believe in making the world a better place by acting both locally and globally,” she said. “I may be the luckiest person in the world. I’m privileged to be able to serve my neighbors every day and in so many different ways.”
Good Samaritan Mission
Good Samaritan Mission is a faith-based nonprofit organization dedicated to meeting the critical basic needs of individuals and families in Montour county and surrounding areas. Founded in 1995 with a simple act of kindness—providing clothing from a front porch—the Mission has grown into a vital resource for those facing financial hardship and instability.
Its work focuses on removing barriers and restoring dignity for both children and adults. Core programs include free clothing distributions, a food program for students experiencing food insecurity, a youth bed program ensuring children have safe places to sleep, and a hygiene program providing essential personal and care items. The Mission also offers crisis financial assistance to help prevent eviction and utility shutoffs, adult education workshops that address the challenges of poverty, and education and activity assistance that allows students to participate in school, sports, and career training opportunities.
Good Samaritan Mission is inspired by the belief that every person deserves compassion, opportunity, and hope. Community partnerships, volunteers, and generous donors make this work possible and continue to drive our success. Together, we are strengthening our community by meeting urgent needs today while helping individuals and families build more stable and hopeful futures.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors Event
Award recipients will be recognized at this year’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors Event on Saturday, April 11th at The Barn at Frosty Valley. The event benefits the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Endowment Fund at the Community Giving Foundation, which supports unmet needs in the Danville community by granting to nonprofits making a difference right here in our community. For more information on the event and sponsorship opportunities, click here. Individual event tickets will go on sale February 27th.
Community Giving Foundation: Danville is an affiliate of the Community Giving Foundation, which manages over 400 charitable funds and makes grant investments to improve the quality of life in the Central Susquehanna region.
