A nurse for more than 50 years, caring for others has always been central to Margaret Salvador’s identity. After retiring from a fulfilling career in 2016, Margaret was searching for a new way to make a difference, a search that ultimately led to her becoming an ‘office angel’ for Make-A-Wish Hawaii. Since then, Margaret has become a cherished volunteer, assisting with everything from crafting to filing on any given day.
Margaret’s time in our downtown Honolulu office has given her a deeper look into the work that goes on behind the scenes to bring wishes to life. And being “on the inside,” as she puts it, is part of what Margaret loves most about her volunteer work. “I truly enjoy the staff,” she says. “They’re such giving people and so involved in their work, making these miracles happen. It’s been a joy.”
When the pandemic hit and temporarily closed the office, Margaret continued working alongside the team remotely, completing as many tasks as she could from home: coordinating mailings, writing hand-written notes (Margaret is known for her excellent penmanship!), and more.
Occasionally, in-person volunteer opportunities also arose, and Margaret always said yes. When the annual Jingle Rock Run holiday celebration was reimagined into a socially distanced drive-through event called Jingle Rock Ride, Margaret was one of the first people waiting to greet wish kids, their families and numerous community supporters. Stationed near the entrance of this festive holiday event, Margaret handed ornaments to passengers of each vehicle, spreading cheer from the very start. “They were so happy,” Margaret recalls, noting the excitement on the participants’ faces and how rewarding the experience was for her.
In addition to sharing in the holiday spirit at Jingle Rock Ride, Margaret also personalized holiday gift bags for local wish kids, complete with surprises that matched their age groups and interests. She recalls filling a gift bag with Minnie Mouse items for a little girl who adores the beloved Disney character: “It’s satisfying knowing you might be bringing joy to the children.”
After devoting decades of her career to geriatric nursing, Margaret now enjoys giving back to the youngest generation, and we couldn’t be more grateful for all she does for our wish keiki.
Says Margaret, “I believe you need to be productive in life, in some form. The more you can serve other people, the happier you are.”