Melissa Ferraro | Volunteer Spotlight
“It’s easy to walk through your days not thinking of or realizing the sacrifices others make to provide our freedom. Getting to know the SOF community has brought a new awareness to my life. It has opened my eyes to a life significantly different than my own.”
Big Sky Bravery is built on the heart and grit of our volunteers—the unsung heroes behind every life we impact. Our monthly Volunteer Spotlight honors their selfless dedication and gives you a chance to meet the remarkable people who help make our mission possible.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN a VOLUNTEer with BIG SKY BRAVERY?
I started volunteering with BSB after the 2019 Tribute Dinner. After the event, I reached out to the office manager to discuss ways I could contribute to BSB. At that time the help needed was in planning and procurement for the Tribute Dinner. My volunteering later turned into cooking and baking for Task Forces and then in 2024 I had the honor of attending my first Spouses Task Force.
What made you want to get involved with Big Sky Bravery?
My husband attended his first Task Force as a volunteer in June 2019. He came home with excitement and fulfillment that I had never seen and cannot explain. After listening to how he connected with the recipients and the decompression the program gave them, I knew this organization was doing something special for a community that gives so much to our country. Then after attending the Tribute Dinner in 2019 and learning more about the impact that BSB was making on the SOF community, I knew that I couldn’t sit on the sidelines and needed to be involved in any capacity that I was able to.
Can you share a moment that has had the most significant impact on you since joining Big Sky Bravery?
There have been many significant moments that have impacted me since joining BSB, so it is difficult to identify one, but my first Task Force is probably the most significant. I went into the week having an “idea” of what to expect based off the many conversations I had with other volunteers, but nothing had prepared me for the overall emotion of the week. Having the opportunity to meet, spend time with and have conversations with the spouses that “hold down the fort” was an incredible gift. Hearing their stories and giving them the environment to have a break and process the heavy load they carry is something I will hold close to my heart always.
How has Big Sky Bravery's motto, 'Give More Than You Take,' influenced your mindset or actions?
This is a motto my family has unknowingly lived by for years, so acknowledgement of the motto and lifestyle has only made it grow. I grew up in a household where my parents were always taking care of others. No matter the circumstance, my parents were always there to lend a hand, a roof, a meal, their time or whatever they had to anyone that needed it and never asked for anything in return. They shared what they had with friends, relatives, and strangers alike. In meeting this community, ‘Give More Than You Take’ has come to resonate even louder. Being privileged to meet so many of the SOF community, both active duty and retired, through BSB is a constant reminder that we can and should always do more.
Is there anything you see differently or appreciate more deeply since your time with the SOF community?
It is easy to walk through your days not thinking of or realizing the sacrifices others make to provide our freedom. Getting to know the SOF community has brought a new awareness to my life. It has opened my eyes to a life significantly different than my own. I have veterans in my family, but none that were part of the SOF community. Learning more about the sacrifices they make and hearing their stories is truly humbling and something I will always be grateful for.
Where did you grow up, and what kind of work fills your days when you're not volunteering with us?
I grew up in a small town in Eastern Washington and then moved to the Seattle area where I met my husband. We were presented with an opportunity to move to Montana in 2018, and we jumped. Once settled in Montana, I was fortunate enough to be hired by Stockman Bank in their real estate lending division, where I wear a few different hats. I spend time training new employees, working on education, originating loans, assisting other originators and anything else I can help with.
When I'm not serving with Big Sky Bravery, I'm most passionate about…
When I am not serving BSB, I am most passionate about my family. I can usually be found somewhere around my house cooking, cleaning, reading, or spending time with my husband, daughter and dogs. We enjoy taking annual trips to the desert, attending concerts or Formula 1 races and exploring new places.
Is there a particular quote or saying that guides or inspires you?
Keep ------- Going. This quote guides and inspires my day-to-day life. It is a constant reminder that no matter what life throws at you, that you must keep going. Sitting down and stopping is not an option. Motion is the only way forward from any situation, so no matter how difficult things get or how bad you want to quit, give yourself a moment of breath and then Keep ------- Going.