Our volunteers play a vital role in our mission, and in our community. On Wednesday, May 4th, Seabury Resources for Aging recognized not just one, but two SMGW volunteers for their exceptional service! Congratulations to Gloria Ducker and Mary Fromeyer!
Gloria Ducker is a veteran volunteer. She has served as Front Office Coordinator for seven years at our Anacostia Office, greeting and performing intake for participants and visitors. For over eight years, she has helped out by planning and preparing food for our famous Christmas Parties, as well as other special events, including Parade of Cars Retirement Event for our beloved former Northwest office Lead Caseworker, Annette Carver. Gloria’s Diocesan experience includes several years of service, advocacy, and volunteerism. Most recently, Gloria assisted in St. Timothy’s and St Philip’s hosting the Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington Next Step Breakfast. The annual event serves as a fundraiser to support the programs of Samaritan Ministry. Currently, Gloria Serves on the SMGW Partner Council representing for St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church.
Our second honoree is Mary Fromyer. She was a star volunteer at the Silver Spring office, both back when we were face to face and when we moved to zoom. A whiz at resumes, has helped a number of participants to land jobs in areas that they wanted to move into, and in the process has provided valuable interview-preparation and advice. Always ready for fresh ad hoc tasks, Mary took on the organizing of our site Christmas party, decorating our space and directing the potluck and games. Additionally, she took thorough minutes of our staff meetings, and distilled news about the site to send out to community partners in Maryland each month, and kept an eye out for other communications and outreach tasks she could take on when the Lead Caseworker was overwhelmed. Her cheerful, welcoming presence was a gift to the Silver Spring team and to our participants.
Even as the Silver Spring office went virtual, she exercised her talents and stayed in touch with participants. Outside of Samaritan Ministry, Mary also serves as a kitchen helper for Meals on Wheels. Her current volunteer jobs at Episcopal Church of the Ascension find her busy coordinating donations for their Afghan Refugee program as well as sorting donated goods for the refugees. She can be found early on Sunday mornings participating in their Street Ministry, doing Homeless Walk-Abouts where comfort packs are distributed to the unhoused in the area.
Thank you, Seabury, for honoring our volunteers during this year’s Celebration of Service, and thank you Gloria and Mary for all your hard work! You are appreciated!