2024 Governor’s Volunteerism & Community Service Award honoree Mary Lee Di Spirito coordinates the Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA) furniture program, which she managed for decades with her husband, Don, who passed away earlier this year. She has volunteered with ACCA for more than thirty years, generously giving time and talents to the Annandale community, impacting countless local families.  

As part of her ACCA service, she spearheaded the expansion of ACCA’s ministry to include furniture distribution and has worked for more than 25 years to help provide residents with safe and comfortable furnishings. Since then, ACCA’s furniture ministry has provided essential furniture and household items to more than 24,000 individuals through more than 12,000 deliveries. 

Mary Lee also volunteered with Meals on Wheels and at Bailey’s Shelter & Supportive Housing, a multi-service facility that offers an emergency shelter program and permanent supportive housing. Though the new shelter originally faced community opposition, she and her husband testified before the Planning Commission and served on the shelter’s advisory committee, helping the new shelter gain public support. 

Throughout her life, Mary Lee has done much more than provide thousands of hours of direct service to individuals in her community. She has forged relationships, created opportunities for others to participate in community service, and engaged in critical advocacy work, writing letters, attending and testifying at public meetings, and serving on boards to support her community.