First and last name: Dawn DeBerry
Town/state in which you live: Augusta Maine
Are you a veteran?
I’m not a veteran, but if I had the opportunity to go back in time, I would absolutely volunteer to serve. I have a brother-in-law whose is veteran, three uncles who served in WWII, and a dear friend who landed on Utah Beach, Normandy (and fought in the Battle of the Bulge). Quite a few of my close friends are veterans or first responders, and my first love was a Vietnam Veteran.
When did you start volunteering at the Travis Mills Foundation?
The inaugural year, in October 2017. I believe the retreat had a full-time staff of fewer than ten at that time, so I’ve seen the progress. I’ve seen volunteers and staff come and go, and I’ve witnessed the growth through the growing pains.
What inspired you to sign up as a volunteer?
Initially, the building. When visiting the Belgrade Lakes region, I would drive by the Maine Chance Spa property I knew as the Elizabeth Arden Estate. I loved the muted sunflower color with its green roof, and the elevation sitting on the hill overlooking the lake I found absolutely beautiful. With a real estate background, I thought one day I needed to stop and attempt to get inside to view the property, but I wasn’t aware at the time it was for sale. Then I read an article about Travis Mills purchasing the property with plans to transform it into a veterans’ retreat, and after I read Travis’s story. I mentioned my first love was a veteran. He was also an above-the-knee amputee with extensive physical wounds as well as PTS caused by a landmine while serving in Vietnam. In the Fall of 2017, I phoned inquiring about volunteer opportunities and was encouraged to submit an application. I knew it was an opportunity to show my appreciation and respect for those who served and sacrificed. The loss of Kelly was devastating to all, but I feel her presence every time I’m in the building. She put the retreat on track for a long successful future servicing recalibrated veterans and families. Much dedication and praise to you Kelly!
If you signed up with friends, family, or co-workers, please include details:
All by myself, but I’m always trying to recruit volunteers!
If you’re comfortable, please share a bit about your current or past employment:
I had a career in residential and commercial real estate living in South Florida for almost 30 years. Looking to make a change, I decided to relocate to “Vacationland” Maine. I am currently a full-time employee with the State of Maine. Events this past year have limited my ability to volunteer as often as I had previously, but I try when I’m able to jump in for a few shifts monthly.
In what areas/departments at the Retreat/Foundation have you volunteered?
I started in the kitchen and still work the dinner shifts during family and care giver weeks, and the PATHH program. Over the years I’ve volunteered for housekeeping duties, pool assistant in the wellness center, winter ice fishing helper, airport driver, tour guide for open houses, helped with holiday decorating, special events like the Building Strength Annual Gala, TMF Plane Pull, and Vietnam Veterans’ Breakfast. My travel to the retreat is convenient, since I live relatively close and inclement weather isn’t a major factor.
What do you enjoy most and why?
In February I was out on the lake ice fishing with the families. The day started out at 1ﹾ/ -8ﹾ and warmed into the 20’s (Quite the dichotomy after living in a state with stifling humid days and high temps year-round.) This is a wonderful way to enjoy the Maine winters – seeing the veterans’, their spouses, and children experiencing a frozen lake for the first time, enjoying winter sports, fishing and dog sledding. Working at the pool is great fun too. I love seeing the children experiencing new activities with their parents, and bonding with other children who are destined to be lifelong friends after having met at the retreat.
The summer and fall months offer wonderful activities, especially on the lake. I believe I have volunteered every 4th of July because I consider it an honor to share the celebration of our nation’s Independence with a group of Veteran heroes who have contributed and sacrificed so much. Enjoying fireworks at the retreat has greater meaning. I have always tried to acknowledge the Veterans working shifts in November on or around Veterans’ Day.
Of course, I enjoy meeting and serving the veterans and their families by preparing meals in the kitchen. Working with Hannah and Amanda, two talented and creative chefs, is a pleasure. The participants rave about the meals, and I also appreciate enjoying a meal after a volunteer shift.
We have an exceptional group of volunteers who respect each other and share a common purpose, that being to make the participants experience the best possible in the short amount of time they spend at the retreat. I have developed close friendships and cherish the staff and volunteers I’ve met and worked with. I appreciate my co-volunteers’ commitment and dedication.
The addition of the Warrier PATHH program I believe added an invaluable training for combat veterans and first responders. Volunteering during the PATHH sessions is extremely rewarding. Those of us who haven’t experienced it can never fully understand, since we only see physical injuries. Their loved ones, care givers, families, and friends understand. While in my teens I witnessed post-traumatic stress first hand, but at the time wasn’t talked about or addressed, only treated with medication. I am very proud of the PATHH guides and all the participants in the program who have made the difficult decision to come forward in sharing their experiences with a desire to turn their struggles into strength. I wish them all much success on the journey of life-long growth and happiness.
Do you have a favorite story from volunteering that you’d like to share?
There are so many, but a few stand out. I realized many participants living out of state have never eaten lobster, seen a live lobster, let alone cooked one. Working a shift in the kitchen one night with lobster on the menu, a veteran participant asked if he could hold a live lobster before they were cooked. He was brought into the kitchen and was instructed how to carefully pick up and handle the lobster. This lobster’s claw bands had already been removed. As if on cue, while holding the lobster I think it snapped it’s tail and somehow a claw latched onto a finger. It seemed cruel to laugh, so I had to walk away. I was thinking about the irony, since participants arrive at the retreat missing hands and limbs caused by war injuries, that now we’re going to send a veteran back home minus a finger due an encounter with a lobster. Fortunately, it turned out to be minor and probably more embarrassing than anything else.
My first volunteer shift and I was scheduled to work a dinner shift in the kitchen. I guess being the rookie, I was stationed at the sinks on dishwashing detail. Early in the shift the power went out and the retreat was operating on generators. There was little light by the sinks so magnetic flashlights were mounted above. We had hot water but the Hobart sanitizer wasn’t working, which meant washing, rinsing, sanitizing and hand drying all the dishes, pots, pans, glassware and utensils by hand. That wouldn’t have been so bad, but in the early days in the kitchen they invited guest chefs from around the country. That evening we had two chefs from California that used what seemed like every item in the kitchen two or three times. Strainers, spatulas, baking racks, mixing bowls, piping bags, pots, pans, etc. I’d no sooner get it dried off and it was coming back to the sinks again. This was all before dinner was served to the participants. After five hours of leaning over the sinks it was over. What could have been my first and last shift, turned out to be a great beginning and rewarding opportunity to serve veterans and their families. It didn’t matter that I was soaking wet from head to toe and aching a little, I was physically able to wash dishes standing on my own legs and using my own arms and hands. The veterans and families visiting the retreat had sacrificed so much and I felt honored to be a miniscule part of their experience. Staff at the retreat seemed surprised when I returned for my second volunteer shift! I’ll always be thankful for the support of John, Kelly, Chris, and a few others.
Is there something you’ve learned about TMF since volunteering that you didn’t know before?
There are so many people wanting to help and I always encourage others to volunteer, but if they can’t devote their time they can contribute in other ways. Making a financial contribution, participation in events like the Memorial Day weekend Miles for Mills 5/10K walk-run, October’s Plane Pull, corporate fundraisers, and other sponsored events. I must extend a special thank you to Mrs. Leota Clark, a loyal veteran supporter. She has generously donated hand-crocheted blankets & items and allowed me to gift them to a few of our Veteran families and PATHH participants.
Please include other volunteer work (past or present):
I spent many years visiting assisted living facilities and veterans’ homes to offer a little companionship. I thoroughly enjoy listening to their stories and sharing conversations. Decades ago one of the local animal shelters offered a new animal assisted therapy program, which provided emotional support to seniors by volunteering with your pet. I signed up for the orientation, of course believing my adorable & well-behaved dog was perfectly suited for this gig. After multiple sessions over several weeks, the dogs were then introduced for evaluation, and we ultimately flunked out of the program. I was back to visiting alone. When I have more available time, I will try again with a different “adorable & well-behaved” dog.