Mary Stuart (center) of Springfield was joined by friends and volunteers at ECHO in Springfield to celebrate her 90th birthday. (From left) Ann Harahan, Dot Saia, Liz Alber, Sharon Crandall, Anita Eitler, Myriam Peterson, Camille Reilly, Margaret Norton, Mary Stuart, Jean Chandler, Bruce Chandler, Carol Rickord, Jean Hamilton, Barbara McDonnell, Ann Marie Quinn, Marianne DeHart, Linda Lindemuth, Elizabeth Savoie and Gabe Bajusz. Photo by Tim Peterson.
Mary Stuart of Springfield has been volunteering at ECHO for over a decade. She works in the linens and housewares departments of the faith-based charity (Ecumenical Community Helping Others), putting together donated sheets, towels and bathmats for clients.
On Friday, Jan. 23, she followed up her shift by celebrating her 90th birthday with pizza, cake and other volunteers.
Barbara McDonnell, also of Springfield, volunteers with Stuart in housewares and sang with her in the choir at St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Springfield.
“She’s fun, outgoing, you’d never know for her age,” said McDonnell. “She's very organized and good to work with.”
Anita Eitler of Springfield shares three-hour shifts with Stuart each Wednesday and Friday. She said it’s amazing how long Stuart has been able to keep volunteering.
“A lot of people who have gone through ECHO, after a while either have physical problems, family problems,” she said. “They give as much as they can, then decide can’t do it anymore. Mary enjoys people and you want to get out when you enjoy people.”
Stuart was born in the Bronx, N.Y., where she raised her daughter Marylinda and son Billy. Marylinda (married, now Doherty) settled in Northern Virginia, and Stuart left New York to move closer to her in the early 2000s.
Shortly after moving to Springfield, Stuart heard about ECHO and decided to sign up to volunteer. “And I’ve been here ever since,” she said.
In addition to volunteering, Stuart attributes her independence and health to regular physical activity with her miniature cocker spaniel Lady.
“When you get near my age, you have to get yourself a dog,” she said. “I walk my dog four times a day. In the summertime, I do a mile. It’s the best thing to do, keeps blood moving.”
Stuart is one of roughly 400 on ECHO’s total volunteer bench, helping a client base of over 1,500 individuals and moving over 200,000 pounds of donated food per year.
“It's so sad; we are so lucky,” said Stuart. “It’s sad when a vet will come and knock on our door, and he has nothing.
“One client hugged me and cried so hard. It was a feeling that you've got to come back and work here, you just have to.”
For more information about volunteering or donating to ECHO, visit www.echo-inc.org.