Joan
At Community Living’s Trivia Night and Legacy Ball fundraisers, Joan is known as the "Wish Wall Queen." The Wish Wall is a listing of needed items for Community Living’s programs and facilities, and attendees at these events can donate to the agency by purchasing an item or items from the wall. Joan is a pro at explaining to donors the benefit of purchasing these items.
"I just talk to people who come up to the wall and explain where their money is going," says Joan. "It is a good place to donate because it helps so many of our participants."
Carolyn Hoffman, development and volunteer coordinator, says that it is Joan’s excitement that encourages donors to help Community Living’s participants. "She really gets excited when she knows that our programs are getting what they need," says Carolyn. "One year, she even decided to pass on playing trivia at our Trivia Night Challenge and Silent Auction so she could help with the Wish Wall."
Joan is a part-time employee at Mahon Center, one of Community Living’s day habilitation centers in the Support Services for Adults program. She came to the agency over eight years ago when she saw a job listing for support staff in the newspaper. Joan was familiar with Community Living because her son received services from the agency for many years.
"Community Living accepted him when we had no other place to go," says Joan. "After working here, I see even more how Community Living cares. When I go home at the end of the day, I know I’ve done something good."
Joan, who has volunteered for the agency for four years, feels lucky to be at Mahon Center because most of the facility’s employees volunteer for Community Living’s fundraising events and other agency programs. "We come out to support the participants," says Joan. "We love Community Living and we want the public to see the good that this agency does."
A lifelong St. Charles County resident, Joan keeps busy when she’s not at work or volunteering by playing bridge, walking, yoga, and staying in touch with her children and grandchildren.