Volunteering is more than a word for Leechburg resident Robin Patton.

It’s a lifestyle.

Patton volunteers at four Alle-Kiski Valley organizations: Leechburg Area Food Bank, Cat Crusaders, Homeless Cat Management Team and Gilpin Volunteer Fire Department.

“I’ve met a lot of special people in all the groups I work with volunteering,” Patton said. “We’re all there for the same reason and without volunteers, none of it could be done.”

She began volunteering almost 20 years ago.

Patton, 61, retired from the health care industry in 2006 and channeled her nurturing nature into helping humans and animals.

Patton graduated from Leechburg Area High School in 1980 and has lived in the Leechburg area for most of her life.

On bingo nights at the Gilpin Township Volunteer Fire Department, Patton volunteers in the kitchen cooking pizza, hamburgers, fries, fish sandwiches and more.

“She’s always at all the VFD dinners. From her service at the food bank, to her work with the overpopulation of feral cats, to her weekly service at the Gilpin VFD,” said Charles Stull, chairman of the Gilpin supervisors. “Robin has proven to be a valuable asset to the entire Leechburg area. People should aspire to serve their community the way she has.”

Patton credits her husband as a key element to her volunteerism.

“My husband, Ron, is awesome. He’s by my side in all of it. Without his support in cat rescue, I wouldn’t be able to do everything that I do,” she said.

Bingo nights are busy, with five volunteers, and Patton said raising essential funds for the department is the goal.

“I don’t get a day off from volunteering,” she said.

The bulk of Patton’s volunteer obligations revolve around her efforts to rescue and assist feral and homeless cats.

She has nine cats at home and fosters kittens for Pittsburgh CAT.

“Last year, I took in 385 cats to be spayed or neutered,” Patton said. “Helping cats is my passion.”

Helping furry felines is important to her.

“The need for volunteers is everywhere, and, for me, it’s a very rewarding experience to help someone or something — specifically cats — that can be life changing for them,” Patton said. “Every friendly cat that’s rescued from the street is a success. Not all rescues have a happy ending, but sometimes it’s ending their suffering.”

Cat Crusaders of Leechburg and the Homeless Cat Management Team of Tarentum work to house, feed, care for and help cats in need, with a main goal of providing low-cost, high-volume neutering and spay services.

Patton recalled a recent kitten rescue volunteer experience.

“I was called to about six cats on a gas well road in the middle of nowhere. By the time I was notified about them, someone had started leaving a little food for them,” she said.

The cats and kittens were emaciated and had been dumped on the road.

“I had to trap all but one because they were so scared. That someone had dumped them there was heartbreaking,” Patton said.

A lifelong cat lover, Patton has adopted cats she has rescued along the way.

“The sad thing is people get a cat, move and throw the cat out in the street,” she said.

The recently rescued felines were nursed back to health and, to date, four of the six have been adopted, Patton said.

Patton said her biggest challenge with her volunteer schedule is logistics.

“Finding time to fit it all in. I usually think I can get twice as much done in one day than I actually can,” she said.

On two Saturdays a month, Patton volunteers at the Homeless Cat Management Team in Tarentum.

“I can’t say enough good things about this group — for what they’ve done for so many injured, sick and homeless cats,” she said.

Each month, Patton volunteers several days as co-coordinator for the Leechburg Area Food Bank.

On a recent Tuesday, Patton helped to pack more than 100 bags full of food.

Each participating family receives three bags of food and a box of fresh veggies.

“We usually have about 15 volunteers, and it’s a busy assembly line and we’re a well-oiled machine,” Patton said.

The food bank’s board chairman, Pastor James Arter of First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Leechburg, praised Patton’s efficiency and organization skills.

“It’s no easy task to pack and distribute for over 100 families in the space of a few hours,” Arter said. “Yet, Robin has built a strong team of volunteers who get the job done and enjoy the work. As demand for the food bank continues to grow, Robin keeps us well-prepared to meet the need.”

Patton originally responded to a church ad seeking food bank volunteers.

“I never thought I’d be a full-time volunteer. I feel really good about it. It makes me feel good. Do I get tired and sore? Yes. If there were more volunteers, I’d probably lay back some but everyone struggles to find volunteers.”

As co-coordinator of the food bank alongside her husband, Patton prefers not to call attention to her volunteering efforts.

“I hate recognition for things. I’d rather just do it. We all volunteer. I just do a little bit more because I keep it organized,” Patton said.

“She gives it 110%. She’s busy, busy, busy,” Ron Patton, said. “She’s a wonderful person with a kind heart.”

When she’s not volunteering, Robin Patton enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, swimming in the family pool, going out for chicken wings and camping in the woods.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)