Jan Hathaway—Humanitarian of the Year 2009

Saturday, October 10, 2009, was a night to remember. Excitement was in the air at the Belleview/South Marion Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner. In fact, excitement had been brewing all week due to the thrift stores’ nomination for the coveted Humanitarian award for their community support.

When the presentation was read, Merchandising Manager Jan Hathaway was thrilled to hear her name called. It took a few moments before it dawned on her that it was she herself, not the stores, that was being called to accept the award for Humanitarian of the Year. “Blown away!” was all she could say about her emotions when she realized the honor was going to her.

For years, Jan has kept her “eyes on the prize,” and we don’t mean the award. Her focus has been aimed at collaborating with others and guiding the thrift stores into mutually beneficial partnerships with other community non-profit organizations. In this way, everyone wins.

Here are just a few of the reasons Jan is so deserving of this honor:

• Under her leadership, the thrift stores share donations they are unable to accept with other local agencies, such as area churches, animal shelters and the Marion County Indigent Care Program, who are thrilled to have items that are so badly needed for their purposes. In-kind donations have totaled more than $200,000 since 2006.
• To attract new customers and reward the regulars, Jan organizes special events at the stores including blood drives and vision, hearing and diabetes screenings.
• Jan established free voucher programs with the Domestic Violence Center, through which 141 women have been helped since 2007, and with the Marion County Schools Homeless Children’s Program, clothing more than 330 homeless students since its inception.
• All three stores also serve hospice patients in need of clothing, bedding or housewares. Over the last two years, Jan has involved Hospice of Marion County employees in drives for Operation Shoebox, Interfaith and Stuff the Bus promotions—thousands of pounds of toiletries, food and school supplies have shown the community that Hospice gives back in a big way.

When all is said and done, Jan is probably the only one who was surprised about the award—anyone who knows her is well aware of her tireless and enthusiastic efforts. She has been instrumental in establishing Hospice of Marion County’s reputation as a great community neighbor and her humanitarian efforts are significant.

The Cartwright Award Goes To…

Bill Mayer! And why not? Bill has been a familiar and enthusiastic presence since 1997. He started with the Speaker’s Bureau and moved on to become a Patient Support and Transitions volunteer.

As a charter member of the Legacy House volunteers, Bill has been a greeter and patient visitor since 2003, and has also volunteered at the Butterfly Festivals, Steel Horse Stampedes, Flutterbye Days, Camp Mariposa and just about every special event that supports hospice! In 2009, Bill joined a new hospice service through which volunteers can help patients write life stories to leave to their families. So far, he has written two memoirs that will be forever cherished by our hospice families.

Despite his long and illustrious “career” with us, Bill was both thrilled and surprised on December 2 when his name was announced as the 2009 winner. The Cartwright Award was established in 1993 in recognition of Dr. Thomas H. Cartwright, who is a previous Medical Director for Hospice of Marion County and served on the Board of Directors for 10 years. This distinguished award is only presented every two years at the Volunteer Holiday Luncheon to a member of our community who has helped our mission by “embodying the hospice spirit, serving as a spokesperson and advocate, and going above and beyond to ensure that hospice services are available to all who need them.”

The nomination submission for Bill described his selfless service: “Bill is a remarkable role model in the diverse ways he has chosen to serve Hospice of Marion County. He has accepted assignments in a variety of settings with an open mind, kind and gentle spirit, and genuine warmth that endears him to everyone. Bill’s willingness to help in whatever role is needed sets a positive example to others about the importance of being involved in the community. And he accomplishes this without seeking recognition or attention to himself.”

As the announcement was being read (the name isn’t revealed until the end), Bill slowly began to realize that he was the awardee, rendering him speechless. Only later was he able to say, “This is a tremendous honor and completely unexpected. I thoroughly enjoy my volunteer experience with Hospice of Marion County and hope to stay actively involved for years to come!”

Former recipients of the Cartwright Award include volunteers Fran Widick, Ruth Goldstine, and Doug and Sherri Brown.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors: Twice Blessed

Back Online
Tuscany House Volunteer Dolores Fortin proudly displays a replacement keyboard, as Stonecrest Computer Club President Richard Boehm and fellow Tuscany Volunteer Norman Marquis, far right, also a member of the computer club, presented her with all the components needed to help her daughter get back online.

Dolores Fortin believes in miracles. Just before midnight on May 15, she was awakened by her daughter, Susan, who smelled smoke. They searched the house together and found the source: flames leaping from the front porch. Unbeknown to them, their boarder was trapped on the porch. They turned and raced out the back door and minutes later, an explosion erupted as the fire reached oxygen tanks in the living room. Emergency crews on the scene pronounced the man dead and the house a total loss.

The American Red Cross arranged immediate shelter for Dolores and Susan in a hotel, and she received an outpouring of donations and community support, which helped her secure an apartment in Belleview. Dolores’ friends at The Tuscany House, where she volunteers, wanted to go the extra mile.

PFCC Debbie Norton, RN, and Amanda Street, CNA, learned that Dolores’ 44-year-old developmentally disabled daughter had lost her computer in the fire. Volunteer Norman Marquis, who is a member of the Stonecrest Computer Club, also found out that, due to Susan’s condition, the computer was virtually her “lifeline” to the outside world. Norman went to work through his contacts, particularly club president, Richard Boehm. Richard called on The Villages Computer Club, which agreed to donate a refurbished computer.

At a presentation at The Tuscany House, Dolores was all smiles as she told her story: “God has blessed me. The house burned to the ground and I lost a friend. It’s a miracle that Susan and I survived.” Dolores says surviving the fire is the second miracle in her life. The first was being discharged from hospice care, not once but twice. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Dolores has been both a patient and a volunteer with Hospice of Marion County. “The doctors told me I was dying, so I went on to hospice…and got better! I know what it’s like, so if I give patients a smile as a volunteer, that’s my reward.”

Bridging the Language Barrier: Easy as Uno-Dos-Tres

Raquel Cervantes is happy to show customers some of the great values at the Belleview Hospice Thrift Stores, including furniture that is in top-notch condition.

Raquel Cervantes was born in Mexico, but spent most of her adult life in Chicago. Although she has lived in the U.S. for 37 years, she spoke almost no English at her waitress job or at home with her family. After her husband’s death she moved to Ocala to be closer to her sister. That was three years ago, and today, Raquel is creating a new life...and learning a new language.

Encouraged by friends Janet and Howard Smith at the College Road Baptist Church, Raquel decided to start meeting new people by volunteering at the Hospice Thrift Store in Belleview. However, the language difference was a barrier so she signed up for the English as a Second Language class at the church, which happens to be taught by Janet and Howard.

The invitation to volunteer at the thrift store was two-fold, says Janet: “We thought this experience would quickly help her improve her English because of the communication with customers and other volunteers. Her bright energy is a big help and we love having her with us at the store.”

The Smiths were right. Raquel has been volunteering with Hospice of Marion County for almost two years now. She assists the cashier with packing and bagging items for customers. Her native language is particularly helpful when dealing with several of the regular Latino customers. “I enjoy talking to people and helping them,” says Raquel. “Hospice of Marion County has been wonderful to me and I look forward to seeing all my new friends and co-workers.”

In addition to her volunteer work and church activities, Raquel spends time gardening and decorating her home. “I get a great deal of pleasure from flowers and working in my yard.”

The call is open at Hospice of Marion County for energetic people who want to learn and serve others like Raquel, Janet, and Howard. Currently, the Hospice of Marion County volunteer corps numbers 535 dedicated individuals who contributed more than 52,000 hours in 2007.

Thrift Store volunteers assist the managers staff in a variety of ways. Sales associates are provided specialized on-the-job and customer service training. In addition to working in the Thrift Stores, Hospice of Marion County volunteers support care by making in-home visits, nursing home visits, bereavement calls and performing office duties, as well as event support at fundraisers. All volunteers are required to attend a 20-hour Orientation session, which is a great learning experience. Hours are flexible; seasonal volunteers are also welcome. Call the Volunteer Office at 352-873-7441 to learn more or visit the Web site at www.hospiceofmarion.com to find out 21 reasons why volunteering is good for you (the Web site is also fully bi-lingual).