Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Mary Connors, second from right, smiles as she holds her award at a recognition ceremony held by the Retired Senior Volunteer Program at Marquette’s Holiday Inn Sept. 26. From left, Community Action Alger Marquette Nutrition Director Lori Stephens-Brown and Retired Senior Volunteer Program Director Julie Shaw stand at Connors’ right. At Connors’ left is Karen Anderson, representative for United States Representative Jack Bergman, R-Michigan, 1st District. (Photo courtesy of RSVP)

By CECILIA BROWN

Journal Staff Writer

MARQUETTE — Local volunteers donate much of their time to make the community a better place, with some showing a lifelong dedication to volunteerism, contributing thousands of hours to their communities.

Mary Connors of Gwinn is a notable example of a lifelong volunteer, as she has given more than 4,000 hours of her time to the community through the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and was recently recognized with a presidential award for her service.

“This is such a prestigious award, she really earned it,” said RSVP Director Julie Shaw.

Connors received the 2018 President’s Lifetime Achievement award at a ceremony held by RSVP Sept. 26 at Marquette’s Holiday Inn, accompanied by her husband, Gary, and surrounded by friends and fellow volunteers.

She was humbled and overwhelmed by the award, noting it was “pretty special,” but she doesn’t seek recognition and just enjoys volunteering, Connors said.

Even convincing Connors to attend the awards ceremony was “a bit of a challenge,” Shaw said, as Connors “likes to do everything under the radar.”

“Mary does not like to be honored or acknowledged for the work she does,” Shaw wrote about Connors’ award. “She can get a little sassy at times and states, ‘she just does it because she likes to!'”

Connors began volunteering with RSVP nearly 13 years ago, in November 2005. Her first volunteer position with RSVP was in the kitchen of the Forsyth Township Senior Center, where she “set the standard high,” volunteering 48 to 55 hours monthly throughout her first six months of service, Shaw wrote.

Community Action Alger Marquette Nutrition Director Lori Stephens-Brown wrote CAAM and Gwinn seniors are “indebted” to Connors for her volunteerism at the kitchen.

“Her generous donation of her time have enabled us to provide meals for the not only the Congregate Meals, but also for the homebound seniors in the Gwinn area,” Stephens-Brown wrote.

Through her volunteer work, Connors has made many meals possible for seniors in the Gwinn area.

“Mary is an experienced and wonderful cook — and many times through the years has volunteered to fill in for our lead cook — without Mary the kitchen would have had to be closed, and no meals served that day,” Stephens-Brown wrote.

Connors has been glad to have the opportunity to meet and assist area seniors through the meal program.

“I enjoy working with them and helping them,” she said.

Today, Connors continues to volunteer in the kitchen, contributing 22 to 38 hours each month. But she also does much more in her community.

She volunteers at Gwinn’s VFW post making pasties for fundraisers each month and has helped to prepare Gwinn’s Community Christmas Day dinner for over ten years, Shaw said.

“Mary is a gift to the community of Gwinn,” Shaw wrote.

Even before volunteering with RSVP, Connors had a lifetime of service behind her, volunteering at churches and schools due to her desire to help others.

Joining RSVP was a natural choice for Connors after she and her husband retired, as they had been lifelong volunteers and she knew “they needed help there,” she said.

Connors’ own parents set an example of volunteerism, she said, as they had also been active volunteers in their community.

“It’s just in our blood,” Connors said.

She encourages others to take the step to volunteer, saying there are many agencies in need, and it’s a fun way to help others.

“There’s all kinds of different volunteer things that you can do. If you get in touch with the center, they have many people that need help,” she said, noting volunteers can assist area seniors with transportation or tasks such as yard work, snow shoveling and washing windows — but volunteers can also give the gift of their time by visiting someone to chat or play cards.

Connors certainly isn’t slowing down after receiving the award and clocking over 4,200 hours of volunteer service with RSVP — she’s headed back to the Forsyth Senior Center’s kitchen Friday and plans to continue volunteering as long as she can.

For more information on RSVP, which aims to enrich the lives of those 55 and older by giving them opportunities to volunteer in their communities, call 906-315-2658 or 906-315-2607, or visit www.co.marquette.mi.us/departments/aging_services/rsvp_(retired_senior_volunteer_program).php#.W74QHIVht9g.