Volunteer Spotlight: Debby King - A Life of Service, A Love for Community

When Debby King moved to Westport about 10 years ago, she met with longtime former WRWA, Executive Director, Gay Gillespie at our former barn location. Gay encouraged Debby, who had recently retired, to volunteer as a way to get to know the community—and she has been part of WRWA ever since.

Before retiring, Debby spent her whole life supporting people who are blind or visually impaired, including 19 years with the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and 20 years with Perkins School for the Blind. As an administrator and Director of Services, she helped develop programs focused on recreation, independence, and coping skills, seeing one program grow from its beginning through completion.

Volunteering with WRWA felt like a natural fit. Debby’s mother once served on the Board of Directors of the Charles River Watershed Association, and Debby brought that same spirit of service to Westport. Over the years, she has stuffed envelopes, collected Lee’s Market receipts that helped generate donations to WRWA, supported our electronics recycling events, and shared her talent for gardening by coordinating and arranging flowers for our Gala.

Her commitment to community extends well beyond WRWA. Debby also volunteers with the Little Compton Food Pantry, Little Compton Garden Club, and Greater Tiverton Community Chorus, among others.

Debby says volunteering with WRWA helps her feel connected to the community. After a career spent working with people, she appreciates the opportunity to also give back through nature and is continually inspired by the many local organizations working to care for Westport’s land, water, and people.

Please join us in celebrating Debby and the many ways she gives back to Westport and the surrounding community. Her kindness, welcoming spirit, generosity, and eye for detail make a lasting difference, and we are so grateful to have her as part of the WRWA family.