Pat McDermott’s impact on the FreeStore’s mission is widespread. He created and continues to manage the charity’s database. He was the point person for refreshing the website at thefreestore.org, and he continues to be the site’s manager. He keeps track of the thousands of hours logged by the charity’s volunteers, and he helps assemble the FreeStore’s mailing list, which is essential for the charity’s twice-a-year fundraising efforts. Pat has been named volunteer of the year.
He had just retired from a computer management position several years ago and was taking a stroll near his home when he chanced upon Marty Rathje, an acquaintance who is the charity’s operations manager. “At the time I was starting to think about how I could use my skills to help people, and here comes Marty, asking if I’d be interested in setting up the Freestore’s database,” McDermott recalled. It didn’t take much convincing, he said. “I like how this all-volunteer organization comes together and gets things done even in challenging conditions.”
