It is with
great sadness that I tell you all of the loss of another valued volunteer from
Hope House. Don Anderson was confined to a wheelchair after 2 strokes left him
partially paralyzed and with limited speech abilities. Don’s mind, however, was
wonderfully active and curious and he loved being around people from all walks
of life.
Don became
our client several years ago, wheeling through the neighborhood in his
motorized wheelchair on his way to visit us. We noticed he often came in asking
for nothing but a cup of coffee and some cookies (Don LOVED his cookies!). So
one day, I told him he was welcome anytime, and he didn’t need to be there to
receive services. After that, he became a regular every Tuesday and sometimes
more often. We made him an official volunteer about a year and a half ago,
complete with his own nametag, which he prized.
Every Tuesday
morning I would arrive at Hope House to find Don sitting in his chair by the
back door ramp, usually smoking one last cigarette before coming in to work. He
then would join me inside to get everything ready for opening: setting out the
full coffee carafes, putting the cookie basket on the desk, refilling any
sugar, creamer, stirrers, etc. that needed it. He would then motor around
putting things on the shelves for me as I sorted them.
When we
opened our doors, Don was the official greeter, making sure everyone knew to sign
in and to help themselves to coffee and cookies. He loved to sit and watch the
children play; listen to the men talking and the mothers sharing resources. If it
got too crowded and noisy, he would leave a little early, but usually Don was
there for the morning—reveling in his “job”.
Don’s wife,
Dianne, stopped by today to tell me about his death. She thanked us for
offering him a place to feel useful and needed in his final days. She said he
loved to come to Hope House, and loved the people he worked with there.
We loved
him, too—rest with God, sweet man.
