There’s just something about Mary—you can’t tell her no. “I have over 1,000 people in my Rolodex, and they never say no to me,” Mary Alspaugh says. When you hear her say this, it’s apparent she isn’t bragging; she’s grateful, thankful to have folks to support her in tireless efforts as a community volunteer.

And her efforts are tireless: She has helped with fundraising for Brenner Children’s Hospital since its inception, served as a friend and advocate for residents at Salemtowne retirement community for the past 18 years, and worked in the box office at Twin City Stage (formerly the Little Theatre) for 12 years. She picks up prescriptions for individuals who can’t, gives blood to those who need it (she’s on her fifteenth gallon), and volunteers for Old Salem’s switchboard when she can. But the petite powerhouse, who still has her original hair color, doesn’t see anything extraordinary in her anything-but-ordinary efforts.

“I’m just a people person. I had a pretty rough time growing up, and people did things for me,” she says. “This is payback time.” She wants the community to know there are so many little things you can do to make a big difference, and that the old adage is true: “You get far more than you give.”

—Story and photo by Sara Wilson