When Elke first came to volunteer training in Brandon, she was still grieving the loss of her husband, who had been in our care. She worried that she wasn't ready to sit with patients and families. But when she mentioned her love of sewing and her years as a teacher, our team encouraged her to lean into those gifts.
Just a few months later, Elke has found her rhythm. Now she meets with teen volunteers, teaching them how to sew and crochet. Recently she was showing 14-year-old Akshara how to master a "half-double" stitch. Elke explained that with crochet there's always an "ah-ha moment" when it finally clicks.
For Elke, these lessons are more than just about yarn or thread. "Volunteering is my therapy," she shared. "It gets me out of the house and allows me to help others." As a former teacher, she enjoys guiding teens who are eager to learn and takes comfort in knowing that the pieces they create will bring patients peace.
Akshara, who is entering tenth grade at Steinbrenner High School, spent her summer volunteering for service hours. She has been crocheting small pieces that will become tags on fidget blankets for patients. "I hope what I'm creating helps patients with whatever they're going through," she said.
This connection between Elke and Akshara is a beautiful example of how our volunteers live out Empath's value of being Confidently Skillful. Elke is passing on knowledge she has practiced since childhood, and Akshara is using her new skills to create something that will truly make a difference.
Your skills matter.
Become a volunteer and see how what you know can brighten someone's journey. Learn more about our volunteer program here.