Each year, the Baldwinsville Volunteer Center honors two volunteers based on community nominations. The 2014 Man and Woman Volunteers of the Year, Ed McManus and Theresa Gross, were celebrated at the BVC’s annual awards dinner April 25 at Pasta’s on the Green at Foxfire.

“Both Ed and Theresa exemplify the passion and commitment to the Baldwinsville community that have been shown by past honorees,” said Carmey Evans of the BVC. “We are excited to add their names to the long list of outstanding volunteers in Baldwinsville.”

The Messenger caught up with the newly crowned volunteers before the banquet to find out what drives them to give back to their community and what makes B’ville such a giving place.

Ed McManus

“It’s a great honor,” Ed McManus said of being chosen as the Man Volunteer of the Year. “I was surprised, pleasantly.”

McManus is part of several community organizations. He is a founding member and treasurer of McHarrie’s Legacy and is in charge of buildings and grounds at the Museum at the Shacksboro Schoolhouse, where his wife, previous Woman Volunteer of the Year honoree and History Mystery contributor Sue McManus, is the director.

McManus also volunteers at St. Mary’s of the Assumption Church and is treasurer of the Friends of Beaver Lake Nature Center.

He is on the board of trustees of the Baldwinsville Public Library. It is his second non-consecutive term; McManus first served on the library board in the 1980s.

“I was president when we planned and built the new library and moved into it,” McManus said.

McManus said being able to help plan the construction of the new library, which opened in 1995, was one of his proudest accomplishments.

“[That] really started the renewal of the village streetscape,” he said. “There’s a lot more business activity. We’ve gotten rid of most of the vacancies in the business district … It was spruced up, fixed up and they’re occupied. It’s a vibrant situation down there.”

McManus said his parents instilled in him the importance of volunteering.

“It’s a sense of greater than yourself,” he said. “It’s obviously pleasant and rewarding, but that isn’t why you do those kind of things.”

Theresa Gross

Theresa Gross’ resume boasts a long list of community involvement: she is treasurer of the Friends of the Baldwinsville Public Library, sits on the boards of PEACE Inc. and the Museum at the Shacksboro Schoolhouse and is part of the Human Development committee at St. Mary’s, just to name a few.

“When you live to be almost 82, you’ve got time for things,” she said.

Gross’ career as a volunteer began as a child, where she helped her mother at church. Later, when she worked for Seneca Savings, she began to help out with Oktoberfest. She also spends time with residents of Syracuse Home at McHarrie Place.

“[Volunteering] lets me associate with all walks of life. You never feel old,” Gross said.

Gross said volunteering came naturally to her when she was raising her family on a quiet street in Baldwinsville.

“When you live on a street without too many homes you depend on each other. You did it because you knew the people,” she said, adding that her children helped their neighbors with yard work and other tasks.

Gross said volunteering is common in Baldwinsville because of its family atmosphere.

“We’re such a warm, close-knit community. You see the need out there without having to dig too deep,” she said.

“There always is a need,” Gross said. “If somebody asks you [to help out with something] and you have the time and the willingness, you should say yes.”