Dorothy McDonald
Dorothy began volunteering in the fall of 2005 with Mt. Diablo Habitat for Humanity. With a very short staff, the volunteer needs of the affiliate were great. When the office manager left, Dorothy assured the team she could fill the void and quickly learned the intricate features of Mt. Diablo Habitat’s donor database. Soon she was doing the majority of data entry and generating acknowledgment letters. She would frequently take the database manuals home so she could acquaint herself with the tools it offered to streamline operations. She created a process map so new volunteers would have a step-by-step outline on all the required elements to perform the necessary back-office work. “When I think about volunteers who really make a difference, Dorothy is the first person that comes to mind," shares Sue Howell, Donor Development Officer. "Every time we asked her if she could help us with “just one more thing,” she would always find a way to make it happen and always with that incredible smile. I am deeply grateful that our paths have crossed.”
Dorothy was an integral part of the Mt. Diablo Habitat team. If she finished processing donations, you could find her cleaning the office furniture and vacuuming the carpets. She co-chaired the 2006 Crab Fest and prepared all of the delicious food presented at the fall donor appreciation event as well as the 2007 Playhouse Reception. When she is not in the office, her heart is still with Habitat. Recently she participated in the Big Sur Walk and the pledge money raised went to Habitat East Bay.
When Mt. Diablo and Habitat East Bay merged, Dorothy not only opted to head west through the tunnel to work with the newly merged affiliate, but was instrumental in getting other faithful Mt. Diablo Habitat volunteers to “give it a try.” Today we see many familiar faces of volunteers who, like Dorothy, care deeply about Habitat and the work we are doing in the community.
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"My husband John and I were born in Canada and were high school sweethearts – married now for 32 years with two wonderful grown daughters Megan and Kelly located on the East coast. Megan is at graduate school and Kelly is away at college, so we are empty-nesters now. I power-walk 4 miles every weekday and walked the 10.6 mile walk at the Big Sur International Marathon in April (2 hrs. 39 min.) and raised money for Habitat East Bay. John and I are registered to walk the Monterey Half-Marathon in November this year. When I’m not at Habitat, I enjoy gardening, cooking, reading or listening to books on my iPod and going to symphony and chamber music concerts. I also volunteer with some Chevron friends at Wardrobe for Opportunity every month. John and I also enjoy trips on our Harley-Davidson!
Distance has always been part of our relationships as we have been on the move for over thirty years living in nine locations on three continents and taking the opportunity to see the world. From the fabulous beaches of Rio de Janeiro to Rio’s slums, from West End chic of London to “council flats”, Jazz Fest and jambalaya of New Orleans to the “projects” and Ninth Ward, it only reinforces that there is a growing segment of the population that does not have adequate housing and it crosses all cultures and locations.
I used to volunteer often at the girls’ schools and when they left I found I had extra time on my hands, and wanted to do something meaningful on a community level. Around that time, my husband came home from work one day saying he had met the most amazing person who had given a talk about Habitat to his department at Chevron. Her name was Sue Howell and I went to visit her at the Habitat offices to find out if there was an opportunity to volunteer. The rest is history! Sue epitomizes Habitat for me; enthusiastic, energetic, committed and inspiring are just a few of the adjectives that come to mind. Now it’s as easy to use those words for everyone at Habitat East Bay, but Sue was my inspiration. What I love about Habitat is that employees and volunteers alike are there because they believe in the mission and purpose of Habitat, they love what they do every day, and they work together toward that common goal. It’s not about getting ahead, or scoring or one-upmanship, it’s about the mission. I am more about “walking the walk” than “talking the talk." That is to say, I might not talk a lot about what I believe in or who I am. I’d rather let actions speak for me and do the right thing and be the best person I can be every day. I have a strong belief in sharing good fortune and “paying it forward”.
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"I am more about “walking the walk” than “talking the talk." That is to say, I might not talk a lot about what I believe in or who I am. I’d rather let actions speak for me and do the right thing and be the best person I can be every day."
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I feel fortunate to have found Habitat, to share the skills I have with a worthy cause and wonderful people who make me feel that even the smallest thing I do is appreciated and worthwhile. Of course, bribing everyone with homemade treats works, too! Whether it is working a spreadsheet, helping with donors, experimenting and cooking for events or stuffing envelopes, if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well! I’m always learning something new at Habitat, which I find stimulating, and I think I receive as much as I give. One of my future goals is for John and I to work together onsite. Somehow I’ve been kept busy at the office and never managed to get to work onsite!
In many different ways, wherever I’m needed, I hope to continue to help Habitat serve the community and move forward with their mission."
