Hello, everyone!
My name is Mary Antonucci, and I am the new Director of Volunteer Engagement here at RMHC Maryland. I’m writing to introduce myself and share a little bit about the work I’ll be doing here.
As the Director of Volunteer Engagement, I am responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of our volunteer program—from our Loved Served Daily meal program to corporate days of service, special events, and everything in between. I look forward to working with the team to support an already great program and finding creative new ways to serve our RMH families.
While I’m new to RMHC Maryland, I am not new to volunteer management. I have had the great privilege of working with volunteers throughout my career. Prior to accepting this position, I spent five years overseeing the volunteer program at Gilchrist, where I had an opportunity to create volunteer initiatives that addressed the unique needs of our hospice families, including roles specific to the Jewish hospice program, veterans, Gilchrist Kids, and caregivers.
While I was applying for this position, one of the first things I noticed about RMHC Maryland is the warm culture and how mission-driven everyone is. It’s truly all about the families. One of the best parts of the job is when the Good News bell rings and we all get to celebrate with a family. It could be a small victory like having a port removed, or a big one like receiving the news that treatment has been completed and they can go home. It’s all worth celebrating, and I’m honored to be part of this team whose job is to make sure these families have a loving home-away-from-home while they face whatever medical crisis they are dealing with.
On a personal note, I became aware of the amazing work being done by RMHC 13 years ago when my family experienced a medical emergency miles away from home, in Chattanooga, TN. The RMHC Family Room in Erlanger Medical Center was a godsend. It provided us with a soft place to land in between visits to the ICU. I was able to work remotely from the family room for several weeks. We were offered meals and could even take a shower or nap if we needed to. The volunteers made us feel right at home and their kindness is genuinely what kept us going some days.
I am excited to work with our amazing volunteers here! I look forward to getting to know all of you. Keep an eye out on December 1, 2022 for our 2023 Volunteer Calendar and learn more about our Volunteer Opportunities!
Warmly,
Mary
