December 2010 Volunteer of the Month, Marcy Brown

Posted on March 04, 2011 09:05

Who better to name as the Yankton United Way’s December 2010 Volunteer of the Month than Mrs. Santa Claus and one of her favorite local helpers, Marcy Brown?

(Spoiler alert: North Pole secrets will be revealed in the next paragraphs.)

Several years ago, Kolberg-Pioneer wanted to “add something” to its annual Breakfast with Santa for company families. The person who approached Marcy about playing Mrs. Claus suggested that she looked like her, but one doesn’t have to spend many moments with Marcy to know that it’s personality that has made her so effective in the role.

Marcy does concede, however, that, when she and her usual Santa, Curt Peterka (another Kolberg employee), put on their costumes, “We don’t need as much padding anymore. We joke that we’re growing into our roles!”

What started as a one-time gig for the Kolberg family party has turned into other appearances—for example, for the Elks a couple of times, and, memorably, once as part of a Christmas family celebration at the Yankton Care Center.

But her favorite yearly opportunity (besides that for her much-loved Kolberg family) is for Big Friend-Little Friend, an organization close to her huge heart.

Stacy Winterringer, Executive Director of Yankton’s Big Friend-Little Friend (BFLF), says, “All the little ones believe she is the ‘real Mrs. Claus.’” And why not? She’s got the caring smile and twinkling eyes of the North Pole original.

Marcy had been encouraged for a long time to become a Big Friend in the nonprofit mentoring program. She finally told someone with whom she was serving on a church board that, when her term on the board ended, she would become a BFLF mentor, saying, “I’m tired of working with big people; I want to work with little people!”

The chance to “do things you don’t get to do when you have to be an adult” was certainly one of the program’s big attractions for this upbeat, fun-loving woman. She tells of going to see the new Yogi Bear movie with her Little Friend, something she could never imagine doing with her husband. And she is delighted with the opportunity to play—games (including computer games, at which her Little Friend is far better than she is) and outdoor activities. She says, with obvious pleasure, “I get to play in the playground!”

But there’s more to her Big Friend-Little Friend participation than that. A longtime acquaintance called Marcy “a truly caring and compassionate woman,” and that is evident in the way she talks about the program and her involvement in it. “You hope and pray you make a difference; that is the key.”

Winterringer says, “She is able to understand the life struggles and be patient with a listening ear and a hug. She knows just what to give.”

Her first Little Friend match she calls “just the best start.” That, despite the fact that it lasted only a few months before the little girl was abruptly moved out of town, without even a chance to say goodbye. Marcy admits to being devastated by this blunt end to a growing relationship. But she also believes there will be a chance for the two of them to meet again, and has hung on to a box of the child’s things so she will be ready for that day.

Her second—and current—match started when the little girl was five and now she will soon be nine. “She’s really a sweetheart,” Marcy says, and talks about what fun it’s been to watch her grow up. She can now wear Marcy’s shoes! “She will be really tall, and a beautiful young girl.”

They spend a couple of hours a week together, sometimes in an activity, but often just spending time with each other. Marcy says, “She’s putting me in good practice to be a good grandma!”

Marcy and her husband, Ron (married 38 years in December), have two grown, married sons, both of whom live in North Carolina. Thus, she acknowledges, they are mostly watching their 18-month-old granddaughter, Dakota, “grow up on webcam.” However, at any given time, “We already have our next trip planned!”

She works in Kolberg’s accounting department, specializing in accounts payable, and is now in her 25^th year there. She loves Kolberg and the people she works with.

Still, there is a part of her looking ahead to retirement, when her big plan is—no surprise—to volunteer more. In particular, she is anticipating being able once again to deliver Meals on Wheels, an activity she really loved when her schedule allowed for it.

She’s also been active in the past on various church boards and with Charlie Battery’s Family Wellness Program, especially during the years of Desert Storm. She is a strong advocate for Avera Sacred Heart Hospice, which helped her care for her mother some years ago. Now she is an energetic and successful salesperson for their fundraiser, Roses Just Because.

All this, and yet she was totally surprised by the Volunteer of the Month recognition. “I don’t feel I’ve ever done anything much,” she says, with genuine modesty. She just thinks volunteering is “healthy.” Spending time helping others reminds her regularly of how good her life is, and “you make good friends.”

She also confesses, particularly in regard to her time with Big Friend-Little Friend, “Your heart does get involved.” Sometimes, as she has learned, it may even get broken. But that has not dissuaded Marcy from continuing to do what she can “to try and make a difference.”

The North Pole’s Mrs. Claus must be very proud.