“More Blessed to Give”: Volunteer Leader Aurora Morales Gil Continues to Serve Her Community in 2020

When Aurora Morales Gil heard about the cancellation of the 2020 TCS New York City Marathon, the news was hard to process. “I was in denial and disappointed,” said Aurora, who lives in Corona, Queens, and is a 12-year TCS New York City Marathon volunteer leader. 

Like many New Yorkers, Aurora had already experienced plenty of shock and upheaval in 2020. Corona was one of the city’s neighborhoods hit hardest by COVID-19, which caused not only illness and death but economic devastation as well.

Aurora responded to her community’s needs by marshaling a group of volunteers, mostly youth, through a local neighborhood organization called La Jornada to distribute food at the Queens Spanish Seventh Day Adventist Church, pictured above. The operation is supported by City Harvest, the Food Bank of New York, and other organizations. The La Jornada volunteers pack, distribute, and deliver groceries to feed over 1,500 families in need every week.

The service comes naturally to Aurora, who as a volunteer leader has organized 200-300 volunteers, mostly Seventh Day Adventist youth, annually at the mile 14 fluid station in Queens; she's pictured below, center, at the 2019 marathon start with runners and fellow volunteers. Though she mourns the loss of the group's Marathon Sunday experience this year, she’s been heartened to see local volunteers continue to make a difference in the area.

She cites a Bible verse—“It’s more blessed to give than to receive”—to explain her drive to give back to her community. “There is a great satisfaction to make a positive impression and change people’s lives,” she said.

Over the years, Aurora has been inspired by fellow NYRR volunteer leaders Eddie Vasquez and Maria Bright, who she calls her role models. Her spirits have been buoyed this year by the many other NYRR volunteers and running club members who’ve responded to COVID-related needs.

“Their motive is to help their community,” she said, “and by doing so restore our city’s wellbeing.”

NYRR has supported Aurora and her Youth Adventist volunteers by donating TCS New York City Marathon New Balance branded jackets to identify them as volunteers and provide protection from the elements.

Year-round, NYRR recognizes the contributions of the Latinx community. For Latinx Heritage Month (September 15-October 15), we are highlighting stories and achievements from Latinx perspectives.