You may recognize Debra Dockery from her businesses Computer Bookkeeping and Tax Services and Curves. Dockery has a keen business sense and understands that to be successful you must value all interactions with people. “I love what I do. I love my clients. I want to provide special attention to my clients year after year,” Dockery says.
Dockery applies that same attitude to the community work she does throughout the year. She attributes the beginnings of her volunteerism to time spent with her son in T-Ball and the Boy Scouts in the 90s, but the desire was instilled in her way before then. “My mom was an inspiration as she volunteered at schools with the grandkids and delivering flowers to the hospital,” Dockery adds.
“My mom was an inspiration as she volunteered at schools with the grandkids and delivering flowers to the hospital.”
For the past ten years, Dockery has served as treasurer for Festival in the Park which celebrates its 44th year starting on May 18. Dockery is responsible for the financials of the festival such as budget and tracking revenue and expenses. “I also serve on the executive board which oversees the organization of the event’s activities. I am there Friday to help set up and problem-solve site issues,” Dockery adds. She is on-site through the entirety of the festival to make sure the vendors are happy. “Debra is a great volunteer and supports many events by giving up her time to help,” say Bill Sgrinia, Director of the City of Danville Parks and Recreation.
Dockery is a familiar face at another annual festival. She volunteers at the Danville Harvest Jubilee to assist with the concerts. “You can find her during the concerts helping people in the seated area of the Carrington Pavilion. Debra is very community oriented, and we are always happy when she is helping us out,” Sgrinia says,
The annual Racin’ & Tastin’ event is the biggest fundraiser for Festival in the Park. Dockery helps in any way she can including checking IDs and selling 50/50 tickets. Earlier in 2018, Dockery participated in the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Round-Up.
It’s not just community events that stoke Dockery’s desire to volunteer. “At Curves, was have two big fundraisers a year. One, we collect food for God’s Storehouse, and at Christmastime, we hold an auction where we generally collect over 300 dollars to buy toys for the Salvation Army.” “We are so grateful for the fundraisers Debra does for God’s Storehouse,” Executive Director, Karen Harris says. “Each year, she donates over 1,000 pounds of goods with a big portion of that being water which we greatly need.”
“At Curves, was have two big fundraisers a year. One, we collect food for God’s Storehouse, and at Christmastime, we hold an auction where we generally collect over 300 dollars to buy toys for the Salvation Army.”
Dockery is the true essence of community devotion. “I feel I have truly been blessed and want to give back to the community. If we all take a small part, we can make a difference,” she adds.