Text Size
A
A
Reset Text
Questions? We're here for you.
Thursday, November 2, 2017
As Reported by Volunteer Wisconsin
Congratulations to Rhonda Schwenn, our newest Volunteer Rock Star!
Agrace HospiceCare, Inc. is grateful to have a Volunteer Rock Star like Rhonda Shwenn. Rhonda has graciously given more than 500 hours and two years to the organization. On average, she makes between six and ten patient visits a week, each an hour long. During these visits, Schwenn exudes a tremendous amount of patience, kindness, and dedication to Agrace HospiceCare. Laura Komjathy, Volunteer Coordinator at Agrace, remarks that staff members appreciate Rhonda as much as the patients do. “Rhonda’s work with our patients is appreciated and often mentioned by Agrace Clinical staff, who see her interacting with patients out in the service areas she works in. Rhonda’s kindness and patience with difficult patients, and dedication to returning to visits week after week even when they get verbally hostile or it takes an emotional toll to continue when she gets no outward shows of appreciation from patients, is commendable, and is recognized by staff as a special gift.”
Schwenn doesn’t only give back at Agrace HospiceCare. Komjathy added, “Rhonda gives and gives even when she is retired and could be focusing only on her own needs and goals. She dedicates many months of the year to us, but also finds time to volunteer at her local humane society when she needs some non-human companionship!”
Rhonda first became involved as a volunteer after she lost her father, who was a patient of Agrace at the time. Now Laura Komjathy describes Rhonda as someone who serves as a shining example for other volunteers at Agrace HospiceCare, Inc. “Rhonda is a wonderful advocate for Agrace. Her candor and honesty shine through when she lets other potential volunteers ask questions and to learn from her about her experiences, and to help them decide if hospice work may be where their heart lies, like hers does, after her Dad passed away on our services.”
Agrace HospiceCare, Inc, staff, and especially Laura Komjathy, are incredibly thankful for the efforts of Rhonda Schwenn. Laura raves,”Rhonda has only been volunteering with us for a little over two years, but in that time has managed to dedicate over 500 hours to serving patients and their families in her community. Rhonda is my go-to-person when I have difficult requests that nobody else is willing or able to fill, and has stuck with the some of the same dementia patients for all of her time volunteering at Agrace, as she is so committed to keeping her commitment to them and their families. Rhonda is selfless and has a huge heart for dementia patients, even when some volunteers find it difficult to spend more than 15 minutes with those who cannot communicate, Rhonda always dedicates a full hour per patient, even when she is able to sit by them, holding their hand, playing gentle music, or just being present for them. This demonstrates the kind of person she is, and the kind of person I aspire to be.”
©2024 Agrace - All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy