The good Cornellians can do: Elizabeth Waller Zerby ’79
After Elizabeth Waller Zerby '79 retired from her job as a federal employee helping to regulate oil and natural gas rates, she has been keeping busy. She is a member of the Hunger Relief Action Group at her church, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rockville, Maryland. Elizabeth helps collect monthly food donations for the local food bank, serve meals at a local soup kitchen, and donate food baskets to neighbors in need at Thanksgiving.
Elizabeth and a few members of her congregation recently prepared and served a meal at the local women’s shelter. “It was humbling to see so many women in need, but it was also gratifying to talk with them and provide a meal with compassion,” she says. “The staff let us know how much the women appreciate home cooked meals.”
Elizabeth also participates in an annual bed building activity hosted by Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP). She and 30-40 other volunteers meet at a warehouse in nearby Frederick, Maryland, where SHP staff guide them through the bed building process. When the beds are fully assembled, they’re distributed to local families. Volunteers like Elizabeth also donate bedding to help their neighbors enjoy a good night’s sleep.
“I love volunteering,” Bev says, “especially doing hands-on work with people I know, that benefits the local community.”
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