Two years ago, Chris Roman responded to a newspaper ad seeking volunteers for the Greater Illinois Chapter. As someone living with MS, she thought it was the perfect opportunity to get involved with a good cause. Now, she volunteers weekly helping out wherever is needed in the Chapter office.

“Mostly, I'm on phone calls in the office,” says Chris. “But I also help assemble packets for Bike and other events. I even do labeling, stuffing, shredding, and sometimes I assist in the mailroom.”

Always the realist, Chris sees the literal value of the work that she’s doing as a volunteer. In Illinois, an hour of volunteer work is currently valued at just over $23. She figures that by putting in four to five hours a week over the course of a year, she’s making a sizeable monetary contribution to the Chapter. But beyond this financial impact, Chris also finds personal fulfillment from volunteering.

“My work here has added an additional dimension to my life,” she explains. “Over the last two years, I have made many new friends at the Chapter. Everyone is always pleasant and appreciative of me.”

As a retiree, Chris relishes the routine of weekly volunteering, and she’s glad to have a regular job to do without the normal pressures of the workplace. The people she assists appreciate her as well, and some of her favorite memories stem directly from those interactions.

“When I’m making phone calls, some of the responses I receive are very heart-warming,” says Chris. “Those, along with the friendliness of the staff here in the office, make me feel like I’m truly a welcomed friend.”