2022 July Volunteer of the Month Mary Jo L.

We are pleased to introduce Mary Jo L. as our latest Volunteer of the Month!  Mary Jo has been volunteering with Cultivate since last November and has already made a big impact helping in all areas of our Longmont Carry-Out Caravan!  She is honored but somewhat sheepish to be nominated for this award since she feels that there are so many other dedicated Cultivate volunteers who have many years of service!

Mary Jo grew up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and had high ambitions to become an engineer, which she did achieve!  Since graduating from college Mary Jo has worked as an Automation Engineer in manufacturing facilities starting out in West Virginia, moving several times, and ending up in Colorado 22 years ago.  Currently she enjoys working part time and is trying to decide when to fully retire!

Mary Jo loves living in Colorado and is passionate about gardening which keeps her both busy and dirty!  Her main project this summer is trying to change their yard's landscaping to use less water and to capture water from the roof and sidewalks.  Another fun hobby Mary Jo enjoys is beekeeping!

Some of Mary Jo's advice she would like to share and pass on to others is to "Ride the Wave". Saying that life is full of changes and surprises and that you cannot always control people or the situations, but you can control how you respond. 

With that positive attitude, proactive approach and adaptability, Mary Jo is a perfect volunteer for Cultivate!  We appreciate her ability to roll with the punches each week and her willingness to help us and our clients in any way she can!  She says that she volunteers to give back to the community and to meet new people and likes that shopping for seniors with Cultivate fulfills both areas.  Mary Jo also would like to think that her volunteer hours here in Colorado are pay-back to the caring volunteers in Pittsburgh that are helping her father.  She says she is inspired by all the wonderful clients that she has met through volunteering with Cultivate.  Especially Mary Etta, who has inspired her to stay positive and whom she loves spending time with.  Mary Jo says that delivering Mary Etta's groceries always brightens her day and we're sure the feelings are mutual!

Mary Jo, we thank you for your dedication to Carry-Out Caravan and consider your time at Cultivate worthy of recognition.  We appreciate that you shop, double check the orders and deliver the orders.  Most importantly, we love the time you put forward to connect personally with our clients each week when you deliver their groceries.  And, thank you for also recruiting your husband to help us as well!