Volunteer Highlight
Molly Savage
By Anne Weirich, Secretary BLLA
This is the time of year when the volunteer work of Molly Savage is very apparent.
As of November 15th, every time you walk in the door at the Library, you will pass an Evergreen Tree, cheerfully decorated with mittens and hats. There is a name and gift wish on each ornament. All this was carefully done by Molly.
This year, as people stop by and take a name to buy for, Molly is going to hang replacement ornaments. The tree won’t become empty and will continue to delight the eye of all who enter. In addition to the Giving Tree, Molly and a team of 4 or 5 others will set up 7 or 8 more trees. Certain clubs will also decorate their own, too. And soon, the library will look cheery and bright with holiday glimmer and glow.
Molly is a currently a volunteer at the Library. But her entire life she’s given her time to help in the community. “I learn so much from volunteering,” she says. About the age of 14, “I went to read to people in the county home. At first, I didn’t really like doing it – because it was sad. But I kept going and learned to get outside myself – and recognize when people needed help. We have to give back – we can’t just do our own things – and think that the rest of the world isn’t in need.”
I asked Molly, “Where did you learn that?”
And her answer leads us perfectly into this season when we think about giving. “It’s been like a gift… one of those gifts that helps us see that we are an important part of a community or team – and we need to keep up our end of things, and continue making contributions. We can’t just live off of what’s there.”
As an adult, Molly continued to volunteer at things like the PTA and other local projects related to her kids. Early in her career, Molly was the animal care director at the Drumlin Farm in Lincoln, MA. Now she volunteers at Animal Care in Eastham. “I’m incredibly dedicated to wildlife – because they need people representing their welfare. It’s a responsibility that I have to this world. Climate change should change us from thinking only about ourselves.”
When I asked Molly how she decided to volunteer at the BLL, she said it started 7 or 8 years ago. Molly is an artist. You might have seen her work in the gallery of the auditorium or the case inside the front door. She decided to gather up a group of women who wanted to come to the Library and paint. Making the room reservations got her connected to the staff.
In her past, Molly has been a pre-school teacher. Her teaching philosophy is based on the idea that kids’ creativity needs to let them be kids. They need to learn that the process is what’s important not the product. She appreciated the philosophy of the children’s library staff. So, she began working with them in the children’s area. Eventually this expanded into working more and more with Lauren (who Molly says is great to work with) in creating things for the parade and just about any other project that needs a carpenter’s touch and an artist’s creativity.
Molly and her husband Ernie have designed and built all kinds of things – a Mayflower float for the parade, the proscenium arch into the children’s area, the mobile that holds the solar system over the space related books and some outdoor holiday displays. And Molly’s favorite – a big Windsor-like castle that was in the story area for years.
There’s a special purpose to all this creative effort. “My father taught English – and we all had a huge love of books. It’s important to have wow moments, like the Castle, that kids will remember their whole lives. Things that will bring them back to the library.”
I told Molly that I was sorry the castle was gone. But if she and Ernie could build something else, what would it be? I could see the creative wheels spinning and finally, Molly said, “Maybe some kind of nature center – I would love to do more with the greenhouse. I would make it a quiet space. Maybe a Secret Garden – a little door into a hedge – going into a different world.”
After meeting with Molly, I think this is her special gift as a volunteer. She shows us that the purpose of her work – and our work – is to create a different world. Molly’s there to help us notice things and figure out how we are connected to each other and the world … to show us ways we can help, inspire us with ways we can engage and have fun and learn things. And teach us ways to continue the story.
Thanks Molly, (and Ernie) for using your gifts of creativity and deep awareness of community to help us all to want to come back to the library time and again.
