Author: Jillianne Bandstra

Jillianne never grew out of the childhood “But, why?” stage. This insatiable curiosity led her to get two masters degrees (Adult Ed. & MBA). Jillianne can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon than listening to someone’s story and getting a glimpse of the unseen history that we all hold. She believes there is beauty and value in all our stories, even if they’re messy. Outside of her work as our Communications Manager, you’ll find her chasing middle-schoolers in her role as a Youth Director and stepping on Legos left by her two young boys.

Meet Sassan!

Most afternoons Sassan sits quietly along the perimeter of our Community Room, his hands wrapped around a steaming cup of coffee…

And yet, invisible to the rest of us, Sassan lives with a constant stream of voices brought on by … Continue reading “Meet Sassan!”

Tackling Social Isolation by Extending the ‘Privilege of Volunteering’

“My hope is that these blankets will keep kids comfy and feeling good.”  Members, volunteers, and staff hand-delivered the quits they made in our sewing and quilting class to Rose Haven's day shelter this September. 

[minti_divider style=”1″ icon=”” margin=”60px 0px 60px 0px”]“Volunteering in a privilege,” asserts Crystal, our Spiritual Support Coordinator.

Throughout their lives, many of our members have heard a subtle and pervasive message that they don’t have anything to offer; that they’ll always … Continue reading “Tackling Social Isolation by Extending the ‘Privilege of Volunteering’”