Volunteer Spotlight: Byron Kavanagh and Marty Donovan
We recently had some time with Byron and Marty, the dynamic duo volunteer team who bring lots of heart and even more laughs to SVMOW and the clients we serve. Bryon is a native of Long Island, NY who came to L.A. to work as a comedy writer almost 15 years ago. His partner-in-crime Marty is from Bethel, Maine (which holds the Guinness World Record for world’s largest snowman)! Marty is a graduate of Tufts University who also headed to L.A. to work as a TV writer where he met Byron on a Disney sitcom. They volunteer delivering hot meals every week and even “adopted” the route they deliver. We are grateful for the good humor and compassion they bring to us!
1. How did you both come to volunteer for St. Vincent Meals on Wheels?
Byron: A healthy touch of Catholic guilt is the big picture answer, and though I’ve written checks to help organizations such as SVMOW, (I’ve found) there’s a whole different appreciation for doing good deeds in person.
Marty: Byron!
2. As drivers and runners for St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, what does your typical day of volunteering look like?
Marty: Byron and I will show up at St. Vincent Meals on Wheels (HQ) and make sure we’ve got all our hot meals, cold meals, milks, snacks, and breakfasts before we hit the road.
Byron: Mostly, I must keep track of Marty’s mistakes and make sure things run smoothly. It’s probably more of the opposite, but at the end of the day, it’s handing over a meal with a smile and hopefully making somebody’s day a bit better.
3. What has been the most challenging aspect of your volunteer experience?
Byron: I think there are days when there’s traffic or you make a mistake, and the first human reaction is that you’re having a ‘bad’ day. But when I take a deep breath and realize I’m there to help people, it quickly puts everything into perspective.
Marty: Dealing with Byron (HaHa). Sometimes it’s hard to see people in bad health or unhealthy circumstances, but it also helps to know that we are making things a little bit better by bringing them a hot meal.
4. What do you find most fulfilling about your role as volunteers?
Byron: The day-to-day interactions with clients. Little jokes that you share with people that you grow to know over time. It’s also great that so many staff at SVMOW have been around for all the years I have. It’s not just a paycheck but a community and the vibe is always strong!
Marty: It’s the people. From the staff at SVMOW who are eternally friendly and helpful, to the clients that you can tell really appreciate the work we’re doing, to my wingman Byron who makes it a blast every time.
5. Have there been any unexpected benefits or surprises you’ve encountered because of volunteering?
Marty: The perspective shift I experience every time I volunteer was unexpected. Volunteering has been a great way to see new areas of L.A., meet people not my same age, and see a different way of living. Exposure to that has made me grateful for all that I have. Also, having a standing weekly time to volunteer with Byron, to catch up, and joke around has really solidified him as one of my best friends, eternally bonded by the wings!
Byron: It’s the human interaction that makes all the difference. There’s something magical about seeing the people you’re helping face to face.
