Meet Terry Willner

In honor of Women’s History Month, we spoke to one of our community’s all-star volunteers, Terry Willner. Among the many volunteer opportunities she has been involved with over the past several years, she is also currently the co-chair of the Baltimore Dignity Grows chapter with Associated Women, which supplies totes of feminine hygiene products to be donated to organizations supporting women and girls.

Please tell us a few things about yourself:

I grew up in Baltimore and have been a lifelong member of Oheb Shalom Congregation (Now Har Sinai-Oheb Shalom Congregation). I was Pikesville class of ’81 and went to Emory for college. After college, I returned to Baltimore for a job in PR, and I met my husband at a work event. We have two sons, who are both currently engaged and planning their weddings for October 2024 and April 2025!

What inspires you to give back to your community?

I’m lucky that I can! What a great thing it is to do something for someone else. I don’t do it for the recognition, but I love being able to make a difference in someone else’s life. I’m definitely a do-er, and I love hands on volunteerism.

My grandparents actually delivered meals for Meals on Wheels when I was a child, and during Covid when I was furloughed from my job, I also delivered Meals on Wheels. It felt like a meaningful continuation of their work.

You are the co-chair of the Baltimore Dignity Grows chapter with Associated Women, which supplies totes of feminine hygiene products to be donated to organizations supporting women and girls. How did you become involved with Dignity Grows?

To answer that I need to take a few steps back. Several years ago, I participated in Chapter 2 with the Associated, a leadership program for Women entering a new stage of their lives- often becoming empty nesters. That program laid the groundwork that connected me to Jewish Volunteer Connection, where I joined the board and then became chair of the board. I became involved in many hands-on volunteer opportunities through JVC and my synagogue, including leading the Bunches of Lunches program at Har Sinai-Oheb Shalom. Dignity Grows was the beneficiary of our Women’s Seder, and my interest was piqued. I participated in a few other packing parties and then was invited to be a co-chair.

Why is Dignity Grows important to you?

As a woman, it’s so understandable. You just get it- and it makes an immediate impact. The project impacts women across life stages. The fact that the government considers feminine hygiene products as luxury goods and doesn’t provide assistance to purchase them is unbelievable. So if we can do something to make the difference in the lives of a teen or a mom in need and help them access those supplies, it will really have a lasting effect.

What advice would you give to women in our community who are looking to get involved with service?

It doesn’t take a lot of time! You can fit it into your schedule if you want to. There really is something for everyone. I always also tell people that they will get more out of it than you will put in. If you can chose to spend your time helping someone else, how can you not?