Congratulations to Mary Sheldon — a stellar volunteer of the year

The Center is pleased to announce that Mary Sheldon is one of our two volunteers of the year — to be honored September 26 in the virtual presentation of Transformation Awards 2024. Mary has been an important asset to the Center. Thanks so very much.

“Our volunteers are the lifeblood in the lives of our clients. The relationships that the clients develop with our volunteers make for enduring relationships,” Laurel Nelson, CEO of The Center for Respite Care, said.

We recently talked with Mary about her life and work with the Center.

Mary, please tell us a little about yourself:

For the last 19 years, I have worked for the Marjorie P. Lee Retirement Center community — in activities/ life enrichment. I enjoyed my job and retired at the end of September 2023. I’m involved with other volunteer activities through my church such as serving at luncheons. I volunteer at T. T. T. Organization which sends girls to camp. (www.nationaltttsociety.org)

How did you encounter the Center:

Through my church — Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church. We had some women who started volunteering there to decorate at Christmas time.  I’ve worked for them (the Center) for 15 years.

I became involved in providing Sunday night dinners — contributing and serving. My husband and I are responsible for delivering monthly meals.

Since I’ve retired, I now call bingo twice a month — I tell people once you’re an activities person you just can’t let go of bingo. We provided prizes through friends and church members and hosted a movie night.

What would you like people to know about the Center?

It’s a wonderful organization of which there is a great need in our city —people who experience homelessness who are ill and or hospitalized and have no other place to go. The Center also offers them educational support.

What is your impression of our clients?

Most of the clients are optimistic — they see other clients heal and move on to housing.

What are your hopes in terms of what you want your future involvement to be with the Center?

I want to continue to support them with our church’s monthly meals and to support them with donations of clothing personal items and household items.  I would like to determine other ways to volunteer now that I’m available during daytime hours.

Life for many of the clients is especially tough —but providing meals in clothing donations, hygiene items whatever they have on their wish list (see the Center’s wish list on our website) makes a big difference.

I have seen how grateful the clients are for homemade meals — they express their gratitude and it makes a big difference.

Thanks so much to Mary Sheldon for her time, energy, and passion for the Center. She improves the lives of our clients and our staff. We congratulate her as one of the 2024 honorees.