Stepping up when people need help

(PRINEVILLE) — Marilyn Malloy is pretty easy to spot in Prineville, especially in places where help is needed.

She volunteers at the Prineville Senior Center serving meals, she oversees the chemo quilt program for the Crook County Quilt Guild, and she volunteers for Christmas in the Pines, a drive-thru holiday lights display, focusing on repairing and upgrading the features.

But believe it or not, as busy as she has been in the community, she has been cutting back in recent years.

“I’m 87 years old,” she offers as an explanation.

Malloy moved to Prineville in 1993 and jumped into community volunteering almost immediately.

“I have served at the senior center for almost 30 years,” she said. “When I first started serving there, I did it every day. Now, I am down to about four or five times a month.”

Her early days also included a volunteering stint with the local American Legion Auxiliary where she focused on the community service role because “there was nobody doing it.” She spearheaded the Auxiliary supporting Central Oregon Battering and Rape Alliance – known as Saving Grace.

“We made Christmas stockings for the kids and Easter things for the kids. Then, I got the group to serve the senior center,” she recalls.

Much of Malloy’s volunteer efforts have centered on helping cancer victims, one of whom was her daughter. When she received a chemo quilt from people in her community, Malloy liked the idea and decided to start a program in Prineville.

“We make about 200 quilts a year,” she said. “I always carry them in my car, so if I know someone who needs one, I give it to them.” Malloy went on to note that the Quilt Guild donates chemo quilts to Summit Medical Group and St. Charles Health System every year as well.

Malloy also devoted much of her time to the Relay for Life program. Before Relay events went virtual in Oregon, Malloy served as one of the Relay for Life event organizers.

“For about seven years, I was the top fundraiser,” she recalls.

Other volunteer efforts include the American Red Cross, which she has served for 18 years, and Christmas in the Pines, a holiday attraction that she starts working on in July.

When somebody volunteers in one community as often and for as long as Malloy has, people start to notice it. So, when Prineville-Crook County Chamber of Commerce members were looking for a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient two years ago, she made the short list of nominees and later won the award. Then, this past February, she found herself back on stage at the annual Chamber Award Banquet, receiving the Kiwanis Club of Prineville’s annual Cecil Sly Award for community service.

The attention leave Malloy at a loss.

“I couldn’t talk about it then, and I can’t talk about it now. Why me? There are so many people who do so many things. Every group I have ever been with, there are people doing things.”

But her purpose in serving others is crystal clear.

“People need help, and I’m able to do it, so I do what I can,” she explains. “I just think, if there’s anything you can do to fill a gap, you should do it. If you see someone who needs help, help them. There are no ifs, ands or buts about it. You get in and help.”