Terry O'Rourke: 'Volunteering Matters'

Terry was born and grew up in Manitoba. In 1979 she, her husband, and her 5-year-old twin boys moved to Calgary. After a 34-year real estate career, Terry semi-retired and sought something else to fill her time, and that’s when she applied to volunteer with Dress for Success Calgary. 

Before working in real estate, she had been a Human Resources recruiter at CareWest. With her professional background, she thought her skills, along with her love of fashion and her desire to help those in need, would make her an asset to the work of the Making Changes Association.

Terry loves helping clients find beautiful outfits and is always amazed at how much they evolve in just 90 minutes of consultations. She says “At first, they start out a bit nervous, not knowing how to feel, and shortly after they bloom! It amazes me every time I see the beautiful essence of each person shine. It is a wonderful high.”

“The ladies I have had the honour to work with have all been incredibly grateful and leave so happy. I love being a part of making this happen!”

Terry shares that she didn’t expect the gratitude she would see in the clients with just a donated wardrobe. She told us, “The ladies I have had the honour to work with have all been incredibly grateful and leave so happy. I love being a part of making this happen!”

Terry encourages anyone who has an interest in helping women and have love fashion and clothes to check out Dress for Success Calgary. “It is an amazing volunteer experience and I am so grateful I was selected to volunteer here.”

Thank you, Linda, for all that you do for us and our clients, We are so proud of all our volunteers for their dedication and commitment to helping women, those who identify as women, and teen girls in Calgary!

Check out our website for details on ways to volunteer with us: https://www.makingchangesassociation.ca/volunteer-with-us