Photo By Sgt. Victor Ayala | Missy Bishop, 32, delivers a baby-bundle to Sgt. Billy Glover for his new daughter at...... read more read more
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By Pfc. Victor J. Ayala
49th Public Affairs Detachment
FORT BRAGG, N.C. - It was a gray, cold and cloudy Monday morning. Pleasantness was hard to come by on a day like that and motivation scarcer still. However, one woman seemed to have plenty of both by the truck load.
Missy Bishop, 32-years-old, must have seemed to be an oddity on that Monday morning as she walked into the Fort Bragg Armed Services YMCA with a smile on her face and her voice full of song. She took a few colorfully decorated bags, red ones for baby girls and blue ones for baby boys, then turned and headed back into the gloom, still as positive and warm as when she had entered.
"We love for her to be here. She's always pleasant, always in a good mood. It could be just the gloomiest of days and she always arrives in the most uplifting moods," said Lisa Kotman, volunteer coordinator for the ASYMCA on post.
Every Monday morning, Bishop and communication skills instructor, Heather Hamilton, pick up baby-bundles from the ASYMCA to deliver to the proud parents of newborn babies at the Womack Army Medical Center. Bishop also helps to assemble the baby-bundles, which are care-packages containing simple necessities like baby wipes, a blanket, baby clothes and baby clothing detergent.
Bishop lives with autism, a condition characterized by impaired social interaction and problems with communication. Hamilton has been working with Bishop for over a year to help her live as independently as possible by providing one-on-one instruction in social interaction. While Hamilton promotes social interaction, volunteering was Bishop's choice.
"The volunteer position isn't mine, it's Missy's. I'm just here to give any extra help I can," said Hamilton.
In addition to helping with the baby-bundles, Bishop has helped the ASYMCA with numerous other projects. Last November, Bishop helped with a lower-enlisted golf outing. Also, she volunteered to help with the Holiday Hearts program, which gave presents to Fort Bragg families last December.
Kotman is thankful for Bishop's dedication to the post ASYMCA, but greater than her consistency and work ethic is the spirit she brings to the work.
"She is so pleasant," Kotman said. "She's always happy to be doing what she's doing. Whatever she does, she brings a pleasant spirit to it. Some others might have their days when they just don't feel like helping, but Missy is always ready to give to her community."
Hamilton credits this to Bishop's hard-working and focused nature.
"She's very easy to work with, very cooperative. She loves to go out and do good things," Hamilton said.
Aside from volunteer work, Bishop stays busy with a regular job at Spinner's Pizza in Fayetteville, meeting with peers every week and spending time with family, no doubt spreading her infectious smile and positive attitude as she does so.
| Date Taken: | 01.26.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.26.2009 17:23 |
| Story ID: | 29291 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 240 |
| Downloads: | 204 |
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