“All members of the military family community, especially the residents of the St. Hubert PMQ, have benefited from Maryse's volunteer contributions,” says Marie Belle Meunier, Montreal Region MFRC. “It is difficult to estimate the number of people touched by Maryse's contribution to the community, as the scope of her involvement is so great.”
Maryse has organized many events and projects that have become staples for the community over the years, such as the Creative Nights, a bi-monthly activity for military spouses. She also helps install the decorations for Remembrance Day and Military Child Month in the PMQ area. Her participation in MFRC Volunteer Mornings also helps to keep the volunteer group motivated. During more significant projects, she does not hesitate to make herself available and work on some projects from home.
"I feel a lot of gratitude for those volunteer periods. I never think of it as a job task. Instead, I call it ' Social Time,' and I always leave with a smile," says Maryse. "Being an artist, I work from home, so these volunteer times allow me to get out of the house and meet new people, talk to people who are going through much the same reality as I am as a military wife, joke together, laugh and even make friends while helping out at the Military Family Center."
Maryse says that she loves recruiting new volunteers. She says it's key to match the person right with the right job based on experience and interests. At the MFRC, members of the military community can help with, from sending mail to creating decorations for Remembrance Day or Military Children’s Month to wrapping Christmas presents many jobs.
"In short, the experience of volunteering at the MFRC has been a great one for me,” says Maryse. "I encourage others to come!"
