Still Showing Up for Others
Two stories. Two expressions of the same heart. A reminder that purpose, compassion, and connection do not fade with time—they deepen.
At Cedarhurst, there are people who quietly make life better simply by showing up. Sometimes it looks like an 81-year-old volunteer greeting strangers with a smile at the hospital every Tuesday morning. Sometimes it sounds like familiar hymns drifting through a Memory Care neighborhood on a Sunday morning. Different communities. Different stories. The same unmistakable thread of compassion. At Cedarhurst of Lebanon, resident Barbara Goodwin still keeps a full schedule. Cheerful, talkative, and always on the move, Barbara spends her days helping gather residents for activities, making decorative tissue boxes, volunteering at Mercy Hospital, and serving at Life Point's food pantry. At 81 years old, slowing down has never really been her style.
“I like to go, go, go all the time,” Barbara said with a laugh. Barbara has volunteered at Mercy Hospital for nearly 20 years. Every Tuesday, she walks the halls helping transport wheelchairs, visiting with staff, and checking in on people throughout the hospital. Over the past two and a half years, she has also volunteered at Life Point, helping provide food and support to families throughout the community. “What warms my heart is how thankful and appreciative people are,” Barbara said. “Their smile tells me I’m doing something good.” At Life Point, Barbara loves the camaraderie as much as the service itself. She jokes with coworkers, visits with families, and helps welcome the dozens of people who come through the doors each day needing assistance. “They need conversation,” she said. “They need someone to talk to, and if they are down and out, you help build them up.” For Barbara, volunteering has never been about recognition. It is simply who she is. Raised in a family that believed deeply in helping others, she says giving back has always been second nature.
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs