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Dorothy Harrell
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Dorothy Harrell
Dorothy, Seattle 2006 MDA volunteer of the year, lived on Fishers Island. Munnawtawkit, as it was known by the Pequot North American Indians, means planting field. Besides planting corn, the Pequot spread nets across coves into the Atlantic sound to catch salmon darting to the ocean. Three hundred years later, Dorothy would take the Fishers Island ferry about 135 miles south to the rushing tide of New York City.

Eventually, she ventured to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration located in Seattle's Western Association of Schools and Colleges office. The organization is a resource for fisheries, weather, and television reporting.

Courtesy of
American Meterological Society

At the NOAA office, she was woman extraordinaire. She typed on the computer, answered phones, and did everything needed. She took an early retirement because her dad needed her.

Dorothy had her contentions. She knew something was wrong as a child with her ankles. In her 20s, a family doctor sent her to an orthopedic specialist. She was told that she needed surgery. Otherwise, she would be in a wheelchair. While in surgery, CMT, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease was found.

Through the Muscular Dystrophy loan closet, she acquired Articulating Foot Orthotics, and a scooter. Articulating Foot Orthotics is a brace which provides support and protection to weakened joints and muscle groups. Dorothy wanted to "give back what they are doing for me". She volunteers at the MDA, the Puget Sound Blood Drive, and the Salvation Army, where she's a soprano in the choir. She explained that she stayed with MDA because, "There are other people more disabled than I am. Hoping to find a cure. MDA is most encouraging and helpful to me."

She was filling out thank you cards to Fill the Boot participants. In September, she'll be on the phones for the MDA regional telethon. She's answered calls as far away as Alaska. She also assists with hundreds of mailings for MDA lockup events.

During her lunch break before settling into her next batch of Fill the Boot cards, she wraps a strand of yarn forming a stitch for baby Jennifer's blanket. Dorothy is a member of Knit Witts. They meet at a Richmond Beach coffee shop which used to be a garage for vehicles.

Beyond knitting, she bakes for friends. Not just chocolate chip cookies. She bakes wedding cakes topped with shells tipped from buttercream frosting.

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