Staff members reflect on taking first steps with Lyngblomsten as volunteers
March 15, 2018
Lyngblomsten Community Services Team Coordinator Betsy Hoffman (left) and Volunteer Coordinator Carolyn Healy both started their Lyngblomsten journey as volunteers before moving into staff roles.
By Brandi Jewett, Lyngblomsten staff writer
The road to many jobs starts with a help wanted ad, but for Lyngblomsten staff Betsy Hoffman and Carolyn Healy, their journey with the organization began by serving as volunteers before becoming employees.
Hoffman, who now works as Team Coordinator for 2nd Half with Lyngblomsten, got her start as a lead volunteer for The Gathering group respite program while Healy, who works as Volunteer Coordinator for 2nd Half, volunteered in a variety of areas.
Helping caregivers
Ten years ago, Hoffman received her introduction to Lyngblomsten and The Gathering through a meeting at her church. The Gathering provides a day of stimulating activities for people experiencing early- to mid-stage memory loss and gives five hours of respite to caregivers who desire a break. The program is offered at six sites at churches around the Twin Cities.
The mission of The Gathering and the passion of the group looking to set up a site in White Bear Lake at the time inspired Hoffman to get involved. In addition to helping the group get the site up and running, she became a lead volunteer—a person who plans activities for participants and for volunteers assisting with the program.
In January 2009, she joined Lyngblomsten Community Services, which coordinates 2nd Half with Lyngblomsten, and has enjoyed her work ever since. In her role, she connects caregivers and people with memory loss with helpful services and programs offered through 2nd Half.
“I like to put caregivers' minds at ease, let them know we are here to help, and there are lots of ways we can help,” Hoffman said. “It’s a difficult journey for a lot of people, and we give them that sense of hope and that they’re not alone.”
It’s a mission that’s personal to her. Before starting as a Gathering volunteer in 2008, Hoffman spent five years serving in caregiving roles for a number of her friends. Hoffman can recall a day when another friend showed up to provide her with an hour of respite from caregiving and the impact it made.
“I just thought, what a relief, I don’t have to think about this for an hour,” Hoffman said. Now, she helps others feel that relief through her job.
Finding meaning
Like Hoffman, Healy sought an opportunity to help others.
Following the death of her mother in March 2015, she found herself looking for ways to connect with her mom, an artist, and continue her journey of developing herself as a person
“I was looking at building meaning in my life,” Healy said. “I needed to spend my time in meaningful ways.”
By chance, she happened across a magazine advertisement encouraging readers to volunteer at Lyngblomsten. She called bright and early the next day and soon found herself among the organization’s volunteer ranks in February 2016.
Her volunteer experience started with assisting teaching artists and participants in painting classes offered through Lyngblomsten’s arts and lifelong learning initiative. She enjoyed the experience and discovered something about herself.
“I found out that I am not a painter,” Healy said with a laugh. “But, it was a nice idea and gave me an opportunity to get to know Lyngblomsten.”
Healy also has assisted with HealthRHYTHMS Drumming classes, brain games and multisensory activities for the campus, and a Music & Memory activity piloted for participants of The Gathering. Music & Memory is a program that uses personalized music playlists to improve the quality of life of older adults.
An opening on the Volunteer Services team in late 2017 came to Healy’s attention, and by January 2018 she stepped into the position of Volunteer Coordinator. In her role, she coordinates volunteer involvement with The Gathering and other 2nd Half with Lyngblomsten programs. The Gathering alone requires more than 200 volunteers to serve its participants.
“If I can help a volunteer utilize their talents ... that is a really great thing to be able to do,” she said.
To learn more about volunteering opportunities at Lyngblomsten, visit www.lyngblomsten.org/volunteer.
