“People sometimes ask me: How do you have time to do that?” says neighborhood resident Mary Crump.

“If you want to do something, the time is there.”

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Volunteering usually isn’t glamorous. It involves a dedication and determination we don’t see enough of these days. The rewards for a volunteering job well done often are no more than smiles, thank-you notes and pats on the back, rather than paychecks, retirement plans or holiday bonuses.

And the volunteers who sacrifice time that could be spent on the golf course, in front of the television or surfing the Internet don’t view their selfless labor as a sacrifice at all.

It is part of them, they say, defining who and what they are.

For The Children

“If there’s anything having to do with impacting the lives of kids, she’s in the middle of it,” says Pam Gibbs about her friend, Mary Crump.

When Gibbs was 19, she met Crump, who was a regular customer at the printing company where Gibbs worked at the time. Gibbs says Crump seemed to run on an endless tank of energy.

Eventually, Gibbs opened her own printing business and continued to service Crump’s printing needs. Over time, the two forged a friendship that exposed Crump’s source of energy – children.

As a member of the Variety Club of North Texas, Crump has tirelessly helped needy children for 20 years. Her involvement with the club inspired Gibbs, who began volunteering with the group in the late ‘80s.

“I admire Mary a whole lot,” says Gibbs, who now serves as president of the Variety Club of North Texas.

“People like Mary bring you back to the real feeling of community and family.”

Crump’s accomplishments are as infinite as her zest for the children she serves. Aside from being in charge of the annual Variety Club Bingo event, the club’s biggest fundraiser, she’s also the chairperson of the Heart Committee, which investigates all donation queries. For those services and more, she recently received the Variety Club’s quarterly Oscar Award, presented to an outstanding volunteer.

But titles and awards don’t define Crump, who’s as humble as they come.

“It (volunteering) makes me feel warm and wonderful inside,” Crump says. “It’s the most wonderful feeling. It’s something I can’t explain.”

“Maybe what it adds is a fulfillment of knowing how much you care about other people.”

Crump isn’t one to stand up and beat her own drum, but others gladly do it for her.

“You ask Mary to do something, and it’s done,” says Maree Grove, executive director of the Variety Club of North Texas.

“Over the years, she’s brought so much sunshine into children’s lives. She’s just a fantastic person.”

Crump doesn’t limit her service to the Variety Club. The Leukemia Association of North Central Texas, Camp Summit and Women in the Motion Picture Industry also benefit from Crump’s relentless hard work.

Gibbs says Crump “has a soft spot for kids.”

“There are just some people out there who want to make the world better, and I think she loves being able to make a difference.”

“It’s an amazing thing to watch.”

A Friendly Face

A seemingly confused tourist, searching for directions to the nearby West End Marketplace, wanders up to the visitor information desk at the Sixth Floor Museum Downtown.

With a smile on his weathered, 83-year-old face, Jim Baldwin gladly points the man in the right direction.

“My favorite volunteer place is the Sixth Floor,” says Baldwin, who serves as one of the museum’s visitor center assistants.

“I find it a satisfying way of spending time because of the unexpected occurrences, and I also enjoy telling people where all the attractions are in Dallas.”

In 1990, after retiring from the Bloom Advertising Agency (now Publicis/Bloom) where he served 20 years as a copy editor and proofreader, Baldwin began volunteering at the Dallas Public Library and the Dallas Museum of Art.

“I realized I couldn’t have him sitting in the den all day asleep on the couch and me having to fix him lunch,” says Baldwin’s wife, Bess, who volunteers at the Dallas Zoo.

“It (volunteering) keeps him active and keeps him in good health, and I don’t have to fix him lunch.”

Baldwin agrees with his wife’s assessment.

“She said she married me for better or for worse, not for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.”

Four years ago, Baldwin expanded his volunteer duties, signing up at the Sixth Floor for what has become an excellent match for both Baldwin and the museum.

“Jim is one of the most faithful, loyal and hard-working volunteers I have ever worked with,” says Sixth Floor volunteer coordinator Mia Llarena.

“He’s really gung ho and wants to promote the museum, and that sets a good example for our younger volunteers.”

In addition to his duties as a visitor information assistant, Baldwin assists in editing many Sixth Floor publications.

“He’s as sharp as a tack when it comes to proofreading,” Llarena says.

“In some way or another, everyone here relies on him.”

Baldwin, who spends 30-35 hours a week at the museum, doesn’t foresee stopping any time soon.

“It demands a certain alertness to be able to answer certain questions and direct people to certain parts of the city,” Baldwin says.

“And, I keep out of mischief.”

Pet Lover

The day Yassar Ara Cat died marked the end of a loving relationship between neighborhood resident Jennifer Elliot and her longtime feline friend. But they say there’s a silver lining in every dark cloud.

Panicked and upset, Elliot consulted good friend and fellow animal lover Ashley Tacker. In attempt to quell Elliot’s sorrow, Tacker suggested the two visit the pound to adopt another cat.

And what began as an attempt to adopt an unwanted pet turned into a full-scale animal rescue operation.

“I got mad because there were too many adoptable animals down there that were being put to sleep,” Tacker says. “And nobody was doing anything about it.

“You have to be fanatical about it and make it a priority because no one else will.”

A demanding work schedule forced Elliot to cut back on her involvement, so Tacker grabbed the project’s reins.

“In a little over a year’s time, she’s rescued close to 1,500 to 1,600 animals,” says Bert White of the City of Dallas Animal Shelter.

“Without her, those animals would have been destroyed. She’s very committed to what she’s doing.”

Tacker visits the Animal Shelter twice a week, writing down the cage numbers of dogs and cats she believes are adoptable. Some are immediately matched with new owners following a screening process and necessary vet work. Others are shuttled off to foster families until a suitable adopter is found.

Some find security and asylum at the SPCA or any number of other animal protection agencies. And sometimes, despite her efforts, some animals can’t be adopted and are destroyed.

“We realized no one was going on a regular basis to the shelter and adopting,” says Tacker, whose license plate frame reads: “I’d rather be neutering.”

“I may be able to save a dog here and a cat there, but until people learn to spay and neuter, we’ll continue to have these problems.”

Many of the animals Tacker rescued have surfaced at her home, some temporarily and some on a more permanent basis, like the six standard poodles that traipse about her Munger Place residence day and night.

“At one time, I think she had 20 dogs at her house,” Elliot says. “She gets a personal satisfaction out of helping something that can’t help itself. She’s just an animal lover.”

Tacker appreciates the patience and understanding of her husband, Bob, who has allowed her to turn their home into a halfway house for dogs. But sometimes there are more animals in the house than he’s aware of, hidden in places like an unused upstairs bathroom.

“He tells me: For all I know, you’ve got a gorilla in there,” Tacker laughs.

Tacker and her husband usually wind up footing the bill for her rescues; Tacker says she has spent as much as $500 of her own money on just one animal.

“Most of my friends don’t understand why I do what I do because I don’t make any money,” Tacker says. “I lose money.”

Recently Tacker started selling real estate to maintain her habit.

“I work my butt off (doing that) so I can save more dogs,” Tacker says. “It’s a never-ending deal.”

“There’s always more animals and never enough homes.”