When Mary moved to the United States in June 2023, she thought she was finally ready for a break. After 35 years of hard work, she’d earned a little rest. But after a few weeks of downtime, something stirred in her. She missed being active. She missed helping people.
So, she started reaching out to local organizations, offering her time and talent as a volunteer. One by one, they turned her down—until an email to the City of Pasadena led her to Friends In Deed.
She wrote to Eva at our Food Pantry, and to her surprise, Eva responded right away: Yes, we need volunteers!
Mary jumped in enthusiastically. Her attention to detail and deep compassion made her a natural. Though she started in the Food Pantry—stocking shelves and checking out groceries—she soon realized something even deeper was happening in those quiet moments. Watching someone’s face light up when they saw a long-missed item on the shelf. Offering comfort to someone who’d never needed help before. And gently guiding a struggling neighbor through their shopping, only to have them reach out and hold her hand in gratitude.
Mary’s heart was clearly in it, and she wanted to help even more. So, when a volunteer spot opened up at The Women’s Room, she decided to give it a try. She did—and fell in love with the community connection even more.
One day, while working out at the gym, in absolute frustration that nothing was working out, she decided she would enjoy what she was currently doing, believing that in time the door would certainly open. That very evening, she heard about the Temporary hire at TWR for exactly what she had been doing as a volunteer. So, she made the leap from volunteer to staff. And we’re so grateful she did. The rest is history…it’s been 3 very wholesome months!
“I worked for 35 years because I had to,” she said. “Now, I want to do what I’m passionate about.”
Her journey reminds us that compassion and community can open doors in unexpected ways—and that sometimes, the most meaningful work begins with simply showing up and offering your heart.