Gerrianne Delaney Named Volunteer of the Year

Last week, Gerrianne Delaney was chosen by the as Stamford’s Volunteer of the Year. Delaney serves as 's Volunteer Director and over the past six months, has helped to build Neighbors Link into

Visitors to Neighbors Link Stamford will easily recognize Delaney, a small woman with a big smile and even bigger heart. One of eight children, Delaney shies away from the spotlight, but is always eager to talk about the organizations she champions and the roots of her volunteerism.

“My parents were Mr. and Mrs. Volunteer,” Delaney told Patch. “It wasn’t a big deal, it was just what you did.”

Growing up in Rockland County, New York, Delaney began working as a candy striper at a local hospital the year she turned thirteen. As the years went on, she never stopped helping out with volunteer efforts, but a busy career began to take up more of her time. In 2002, something happened that brought everything to a sudden halt. Delaney went to see a doctor about her back pain and was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer.

“My first thought was, my mother always said I’d get skin cancer because I spend too much time in the sun — the doctor said, “No, not melanoma, myeloma” — leave it to me to get a type of cancer no one has heard of!” Delaney said.

After initial treatments, Delaney’s illness was considered under control, but she is still carefully monitored by doctors.

“They said, we’ll watch you — just go back and live your life,” Delaney said. “I was working 80 hour weeks and flying all over the place — I wasn’t going to be able to go back to that lifestyle.”

Delaney could have easily retreated, but instead, after seeking out support groups and meeting others living full lives while managing their illness — she decided to dive back into the world of volunteering, beginning with organizations that raise funds and awareness for multiple myeloma.

She soon began volunteering for Person to Person, where she first met Catalina Samper-Horak, who would later become the Executive Director of Neighbors Link Stamford.

“She’s amazing,” Samper-Horak said. “It’s a big hug, a big smile, the connection she has with volunteers, our youth volunteers think she’s the coolest person in the world. We have a high school group who volunteer after school, they take the bus here, and Gerrianne makes cookies for them so they’ll have a snack after school.”

When Samper Horak put together a committee to set Neighbors Link Stamford in motion, Delaney was a natural choice and soon, she was serving as Volunteer Director, building a program from nothing and keeping volunteers engaged through the early phases of the program and the first six months of operation.
Neighbors Link Stamford, based off of the successful Neighbors Link program in Mt. Kisco, New York, is a community center that provides drop-in ESL classes, skill building programs, and various other resources for new immigrants. Many volunteers, including Delaney, also work in the childcare area.

“It’s such an uplifting place,” Delaney said. “We see people forming relationships. These are smart, ambitious, family-oriented people.”

While the clients at Neighbors Link have made it easy for Delaney to continue to dedicate long hours to her volunteer work — she has made it a place where they know they can always come for help.

“There is a woman whose kids don’t live around here, and they kept saying, “Mama, you have to get on the internet!” — she came in and asked, “Can you help me get the internet?”" Delaney said. "We sat down and set her up an email account, we called her daughter and asked for her address, and she sent an email message to her daughter. Her daughter wrote back right away, “Mama! I’m so proud of you!” The woman turned to me with tears in her eyes and said, “This is amazing.””

When the email from the Volunteer Center went out asking for nominations, Samper-Horak knew immediately that she would be nominating Delaney. More than just a volunteer, volunteer director, or friend — Delaney lives the mission of Neighbors Link.

“Yesterday I was speaking with a group...describing the program when one of the ladies who had been here before said — “Can I say something? What makes them different is that everyone — that little lady who doesn’t speak any Spanish! — always makes you feel welcome. She always has a smile.”” Samper-Horak said. “How lucky are we.”

And to Delaney, the recognition is all about bringing more attention to Neighbors Link and continuing the work they have started, the work that has given the community — and Delaney — so much.

“When I’m here, I never think about how I feel or worry about my health, I’d be lying if I said I never did, but not while I’m here,” Delaney said. “You live right in the moment.”