May 2012- Volunteer of the Month!

On behalf of the Met Council Volunteer Department, we would like to acknowledge and congratulate Mary Maguire as our May 2012 Volunteer of the Month! Her innumerable volunteer hours have contributed tremendously to our staff's efforts to alleviate poverty in NYC. Thank you Mary!

Mary is a native New Yorker with an extensive background as an art director and advertising professional. She puts her professional experience to use as our office volunteer, working with directly with staff and clients. Met Council staff that have had the pleasure to work with her, rave about her diligence and positive attitude. Our Housing Marketing Assistant commented, "Mary has been very helpful- without her we couldn't have caught up with all our client phone calls."

Mary is a dedicated volunteer with Met Council outside of the office as well. Because giving back is important to her, she has joined us for several special events including our annual Passover food distribution for victims of domestic violence. She also beautified the outdoor space for our seniors at our low-income housing site in Manhattan by planting herbs and flowers for clients enjoy. Mary enjoys sharing her experience with her sons as well, by volunteering together at our Senior Lunch Program where they help serve a hot meal and socialize with low-income seniors. Clients and staff enjoy her wonderful personality and her outstanding contributions to Met Council.

For Mary, it is vital to continue to "give back and consider the needs of others." Her volunteer hours not only benefit Met Council staff and clients, but she has gained a new found knowledge and respect for NYC. She has learned firsthand how embracing Met Council's culture is and how our mission is to serve "thousands of New Yorkers no matter their belief system or race."

Mary made it a point to express that "while New York is the Mecca for entertainment, shopping, and dining, it is also a city that houses a huge population of people in critical need. Volunteering has opened my eyes to a city that is not all Fifth Ave and fine dining. The statistics are staggering:
- More than 1 in 4 children under the age of 18 live in poverty
- 1 in 5 New Yorkers is too poor to pay rent or buy food
- The official poverty guideline for a single adult is $10,800 or about $22,000 for a family of four!"

"These volunteer experiences and statistics have given me a new respect for all people in this city."
But by far, the most rewarding experience for Mary has been "connecting with new people and learning new things about people who truly appreciate your being there. It's a very authentic experience."

We are truly thankful for Mary's ongoing commitment to Met Council and the countless hours she has devoted to our mission. We are excited to award her as Volunteer of the Month!

To learn how you can get involved and share on the positive experiences of volunteering, check out our site! You can always contact us via volunteer@metcouncil.org or 212-453-9619 with questions or comments.