Shining Bright in the Spotlight

In the Spring of 2021, ten years after her sister passed away, Jane Zebris saw that Western Reserve Care Solutions was looking for volunteers. She decided that this was her sign to explore volunteer options for the very same organization that cared for her sister in her final days. Although there are a variety of ways to volunteer with WRCS, Jane felt drawn to the end-of-life doula (EOLD) service and in July of 2021, she completed the training. “My experience has been such a blessing to me,” reflects Jane. “I have so many precious stories and moments.” As an EOLD, Jane sees compassion in every facet of hospice care. “I have had incredibly moving moments with families and their loved ones,” says Jane. “It’s cemented in my thoughts that this is the way the experience should be.” Jane finds that family members are uncertain and struggle with ways to express their emotions and they appreciate the comfort that she can bring. She finds ways to meet the family where they are, like having them tell stories of their loved ones, sing, or join them in prayer. Serving as an EOLD is just one of the ways that Jane volunteers with WRCS. She and other volunteers decorate the Medina Hospice Inpatient Unit for Christmas. She supports Moments to Remember, runs errands for patients, makes phone calls and cards for patients, does respite visits, and shifts at Life’s Treasures Thrift Shop, and represents the agency at WAKR Summit Senior Events. In August, Jane was recognized for these efforts with a LeadingAge Ohio Spotlight Award. This award recognizes an outstanding individual who has made a significant contribution through an innovative program or service that has positively impacted aging services. “I felt so honored to be nominated, there are so many wonderful and deserving volunteers at WRCS,” says Jane. “I am grateful that I can make a difference in someone’s life.” Jane was one of six individuals chosen this year and was nominated with the support of WRCS staff, her fellow volunteers, and a family previously in our care, who wrote a letter on her behalf. “Jane is a true gift to the volunteer team,” notes Jamie Glomb, WRCS Volunteer Services Manager. “I know how much the families and clinical teams appreciate all that she does.” Volunteers like Jane are the driving force behind the work that we do, often working quietly in the background, yet leaving an indelible mark on the lives they touch. In a world where collaboration and community matter more than ever, volunteers remind us that the power to make an impact resides within each of us.