Helen Miller Volunteer of the Year

Encouraging young people to care about animals is part of Baypath’s mission statement and no one helps the shelter amplify that message more than our Community Liaison and recipient of the 2019 Helen Miller Volunteer of the Year award, Michelle Kreell.

Michelle welcomes Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, students in afterschool programs, and other youth groups to the shelter to meet our animals and to learn what it takes to rescue dogs and cats in need. She also travels the area, often with her rescue dog Lane, to visit young people who are making a difference in animals’ lives. Thanks in large part to Michelle’s outreach efforts, we were the beneficiaries of a $5,000 grant from the Foundation for MetroWest Youth in Philanthropy program in coordination with Nashoba Brooks School in Concord, Mass.

“While fostering and the promotion of our foster program has and always will remain a priority of mine, my passion has shifted to the work I have been doing with all the various youth groups,” she says. “These kids of all ages are so enthusiastic and willing to learn not only about Baypath, rescue, and animal welfare, but also about charity and giving back in general. It really is remarkable, and I’m so grateful to be a part of helping pass this message along.”

-Michelle

Michelle is a highly skilled foster mom, helping dogs with a range of special needs find their forever homes, including a pair of blind Doberman puppies, a partially paralyzed puppy, and a host of fearful, shy dogs. We are so fortunate to have her in our Baypath family.