Purdue's United Way volunteers: Michelle McBrite

Michelle McBrite Download image

This week, Purdue Today will offer short profiles of Purdue faculty, staff and students who are making a difference by volunteering at a United Way agency or program. Today, Purdue Today is featuring Michelle McBrite, facilities manager at the Dick and Sandy Dauch Alumni Center, who volunteers at the Salvation Army, which offers a range of social services including providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter for the homeless, and opportunities for underprivileged children.

How long have you worked at Purdue?

24 years.

How long have you volunteered with the Salvation Army?

I have been volunteering with the Salvation Army since 2000, so this will be my 17th year.

How did you get involved with the Salvation Army?

I was initially drafted by my colleague to assist them in delivering Christmas baskets to the homebound. After a few years of delivering the baskets, one year during the actual morning of the event, I was recruited on the spot to help prepare the baskets to be delivered since the crew was running a little behind. I enjoyed the experience so much that I continued to sort and prepare the baskets as well as make the deliveries for several years. In 2009, the program creator wanted to take a step back from her involvement from the program, and she asked me to coordinate the entire program from that point on.

What does your volunteer work with the group entail?

I currently serve as the program coordinator of the Homebound Christmas Basket Program. This program visits the homes of homebound individuals during the holiday in the Tippecanoe County area. We typically visit about 140 homes each year. The purpose of these visits are to remind these individuals who are sometime forgotten or overlooked that they are thought of during the holiday. During the visit, the volunteers will deliver a small amount of groceries and other needed items to each home.

As coordinator, it is my responsibility to work with local agencies to help identify the homebound residents in need, solicit donations of items for the baskets from local vendors and donors as well as recruit the needed volunteers for the program. On average, it will take 75-80 volunteers to make the program successful each year. In the past, I have also assisted with the annual Tools for School program, which provides over 900 area school children with needed school supplies and clothing before school starts.

Why did you decide to volunteer?

I initially volunteered simply to help. Volunteering not only helps the individuals that the Salvation Army serves, it also helps the program coordinators and officers continue to do their work and calling.

What would you like to tell someone who is considering volunteering at a United Way agency?

United Way agencies can truly make a difference for those in need. Whether it is help financially, emotionally or physically, the individuals who work in these agencies care about the well-being of others. At times, these agencies are so inundated with requests, they could benefit from someone willing to roll up their sleeves and show up ready to help them. Volunteering may initially sound like an unaffordable amount of our time, so we often never sign up to help. However, you will be surprised by how richly you will be blessed with what ends up feeling like a very small investment of your time.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Time is a common commodity we all possess. We may all use it differently and we may have varying amounts of time to give to others. But what time we do have to give, we should give it to others to make a difference in their lives. Sometimes just a moment of our time can mean a lifetime of difference in someone else.

How to help

The United Way of Greater Lafayette lists volunteer opportunities online on its Volunteer Center page.

Faculty, staff and retirees also may contribute to the Purdue United Way Campaign by going online and logging into the ePledge system. Donors can choose among several methods -- payroll deduction, one-time credit card donation or recurring monthly donations, or by check.