Dedicated volunteers were there when the Travis Mills Foundation Veterans Retreat opened in 2017, and are continually an eager presence with whom the organization couldn’t operate without. Meet Holly Zack of Vassalboro, Maine, who started volunteering at the Travis Mills Foundation in February.
What inspired you to sign up as a volunteer?
I initially became aware of the Travis Mills Foundation after driving by the Veterans Retreat several times in 2022. Curious to gain more information about the Foundation, I did some “homework.” After reading about the mission of the Travis Mills Foundation and the programs offered, I made a mental note to pursue volunteer opportunities with the Foundation upon my retirement from the workforce. My retirement became a reality in December 2023, and I immediately completed a volunteer application. The rest, as they say, is history. It has been both my privilege and my pleasure to spend time volunteering at TMF for the past six months.
If you signed up with friends, family, or co-workers, please include details
I signed up independently; however, speaking about the wonderful mission of the Foundation has inspired several friends to complete volunteer applications subsequently.
Please share details about current or past career:
Prior to my retirement, people might say that I had a somewhat “unconventional” career. After spending approximately 20 years working as an accountant in the greater New York City area, I traded in my briefcase for a backpack and returned to college to pursue a graduate degree in psychology. I then relocated to Maine where I had the privilege of completing my internship and postdoctoral residency at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Togus. For the past (approximately) 20 years, I have worked in the field of community mental health with a local nonprofit behavioral health agency.
In what areas/departments at the Retreat/Foundation have you volunteered?
Primarily, I work in the kitchen performing meal preparation and clean-up duties; however, I keep my eye out for volunteer opportunities at special events when available (e.g., Miles for Mills, Open House, etc.).
What do you enjoy most and why?
The privilege of interacting with the recalibrated veterans, their family members, and TMF staff members. You will not meet a finer group of people.
Do you have a favorite story from volunteering that you’d like to share?
Recently, while serving lunch to a recalibrated veteran, his partner, and their adolescent daughter, spontaneously stated, “I’m so lucky that daddy is disabled, look at all the fun things we’re getting to do this week!” All family members found great humor in their daughter’s remarks and let out a big laugh.
What other volunteer work do you do?
I am on the board of directors at a local humane society and currently spend approximately two days per week volunteering to assist with the animals at the humane society facility.