VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Passion, Purpose, and a Paint Roller: Meet Mary St. Peter!
When Mary St. Peter stepped away from a decades-long career in information technology in December 2024, she didn’t slow down — she redirected. She came to Tails of Hope with sharp organizational instincts, a lifelong love of animals, and a quiet determination to make a difference. In a remarkably short time, she has reshaped our volunteer program into something we are genuinely proud of, and she has brought a warmth and steadiness to our team that is felt every single day.
Mary’s professional background spans many years in the IT sector, where she built a reputation for solving complex problems, leading teams through change, and delivering results through careful planning. She thrives in environments that call for both strategic thinking and hands-on follow-through — qualities that translate beautifully to shelter work.
But beneath all of that professional achievement was a deep love for animals. When the time came to retire, she knew exactly where she wanted to put her energy. Volunteering at Tails of Hope felt like the most natural next chapter.
As our Volunteer Coordinator, Mary recruits and onboards new volunteers, manages scheduling across the full roster, and works side by side with shelter staff to ensure operations run smoothly. She maintains our volunteer database with precision — tracking availability, hours, and skills — and produces a weekly schedule that keeps the entire team aligned. Her systems thinking has brought a level of consistency and clarity that our program simply didn’t have before.
What sets Mary apart, though, isn’t just her skill set — it’s how much she cares about the people in the program. She understands that volunteers give their time because they love animals, and she works hard to make that experience feel meaningful, supported, and valued. “It is very important to me that volunteers feel valued and connected,” she says, “because they are such a vital part of what we do.” That genuine investment is something our volunteers feel immediately, and it shows in the quality of their commitment.
Mary has also become a passionate champion for our foster program. Finding temporary homes for animals in our care is one of the most impactful things we do, and Mary throws herself into that work wholeheartedly. She even fostered a dog herself — and still lights up describing the moment that initial nervousness gave way to running and playing in the yard together. “The impact you can have on a dog’s life is immediate, meaningful, and loving!” she says. If you’ve ever been on the fence about fostering, Mary is exactly the person to call.
From the Tales of Hope Team
We are so grateful for everything Mary has done to build and develop our volunteer program into the efficient, connected system it is today. Her knowledge of databases has been extraordinary — she keeps our scheduling tight, maintains accurate volunteer hours and attendance records, and our staff resourced even in moments of high demand. She is continually recruiting, cultivating relationships, and bringing fresh ideas to the program.
And then there’s the shelter itself. Mary pursued a Home Depot grant with fierce determination, secured the funding, managed every resource it provided, and then led our painting project from start to finish — doing much of the work herself, day after day, until every corner of our facility was refreshed and bright. Our shelter looks better than it has in years, and that is because of her.
Mary is an extraordinary bright light, and we absolutely love having her here. Her hard work, her heart, and her commitment to this mission make a difference every single day — for our animals, our volunteers, and our whole team. Thank you, Mary, for everything.
