Volunteer Spotlight – Rocky
I first heard about Holiday Express in 1998 from my cousin Theresa, who had tickets to a Count Basie concert. As I watched the ten-minute film that ran before the concert began, I was immediately hooked. I was also impressed by the performers, not only by their singing and musical talents, but by the fact that they looked like they were really having fun on stage. The next day I called another one of my cousins, Patricia (one of Mary Robinson’s best friends), to see if she had any information about joining. She gave me a newsletter. I called the volunteer number and as they say, the rest is history.
I am a local being born and raised in Fair Haven. I have two older brothers and my father owned a luncheonette in town. My mother, Mary, who also helps at Holiday Express events, was the school nurse at the local public schools. I got my nickname from my father whose name was Rocky. When I turned five, I started working for him putting the newspapers together on Sunday mornings. The customers always called me “Little Rock” since I was the youngest. The name has stayed with me ever since!
I am the Girls’ Athletic Director and a Physical Education teacher at the Rumson Country Day School, as well as the field hockey and softball coach. I enjoy golfing, gardening, reading and doing counted cross stitch. I also love doing puzzles of all sorts.
I have been a member of the Fair Haven Volunteer Fire Company, First Aid and Auxiliary for 25 years. I am also an Emergency Medical Technician, and have taught first aid and CPR for more than fifteen years. I was the first female First Aid Captain in the history of the squad, and have served as President of the First Aid and Auxiliary. Currently, I am the secretary for both the First Aid and Fire Company. This past January, I was made a life member of the first aid squad.
I have been a Holiday Express volunteer for nine seasons. I have worked in the warehouse putting gift bags together. At events I have done games, crafts, and food. I am also an Assistant Event Coordinator. However, my favorite thing to do is dressing up as a costume character. I have been a Disco Santa, an Elf, Rudolph, the Grinch, Frosty, Big Bird, a Christmas tree, Elmo, and the Cookie Monster. It is so much fun seeing the smiles on the faces of the children and adults when I am dressed up. It almost seems like something magical happens the minute you walk into the room.
My most memorable moment – and I have hundreds of them – had to be my very first event back in 1999. It was a show for Special Olympics. I was absolutely brand new, a little nervous because I didn’t know anyone, and totally clueless. I had been assigned to do the games and crafts; and, when I started working at the games and a young girl came up to me. She was so beautiful. My heart immediately went out to her. I hardly noticed that she was also bald. As she started playing, you could see the concentration on her face. She was working so hard trying to get the bean bag through the hole and she finally made it. She then turned to look up at me, and on her face was the greatest smile I had ever seen. Throughout the rest of the event she and I were buddies. When I moved over to the craft table, she followed me. I think she must have made ten snowmen that day. I went home that night and told my mother that joining Holiday Express was the best thing that I have done. I was hooked from that day on. I will always remember that little girl.
The majority of the people we see during the season cannot verbally express how they feel. All you have to do is look into their eyes and you can see the smiles radiating out. Then there are the kids and adults rocking and dancing to the music in their wheelchairs. That is always fun to see, but the thing that stands out the most to me are the family members. For a few crazy hours their loved ones are allowed to be exactly who they are and not be judged because they put three noses on a snowman. They seem so happy when one of us touches their severely disabled child’s hand to put on a tattoo or that we just take the time to acknowledge that we also care. That, to me, is the true meaning of Christmas.
I always tell this story about my first year as a Holiday Express volunteer. When I went to my first season kick-off organizational meeting in October, I literally knew only three people in the room. By the January wrap party, there were only three people that I didn’t know. It is one big outstandingly crazy family trying to make a difference in the world one event at a time.
I am so glad to be a small part of it. As I said before, it is the best thing that I have ever done. I am so glad that I went to that first concert.