Many people the Greenbrier Valley know Litz Jarvis, whether it is through her years as a teacher in Williamsburg and Frankford or through the myriad volunteer positions she tirelessly holds.
Jarvis proudly serves her community through organizations including 4-H, Williamsburg Community Action, and HospiceCare.
“I have a strong Christian faith that teaches me, ‘as you sow, so shall you reap,’” says Jarvis. “I was raised by my parents who believed in helping others, and I enjoy using my spare time doing for others. I also like to meet new people.”
Jarvis says she has been volunteering with HospiceCare for eight years, often at the homes of care recipients.
In that role, she frequently helps caregivers as much as those receiving HospiceCare.
“I go to homes and sit (with HospiceCare recipients),” she says. Sometimes, she says, she sits with care recipients because their caretakers simply need a break to go to the grocery store or run other errands.
“I had one person say they needed me to sit so they could have a ‘nice, hot bath,’” she says.
Jarvis’s time volunteering isn’t only spent in care recipients’ homes. She also cooks for the HospiceCare Chocolate Chase, a fundraiser benefiting HospiceCare’s Lewisburg office and the Peyton Hospice House (scheduled this year for April 9) and helps to fill the snack baskets at the Peyton Hospice House.
“I started doing that many years ago for a cancer patient who was a teacher at Ronceverte,” she says. “She had two little kids, and when they came, they always wanted a snack.” Now, Jarvis likes to make sure any child, or adult for that matter, can grab a snack when they go to the Peyton House to visit someone in HospiceCare.
Jarvis’s time volunteering with HospiceCare has become very personal; she recently used her skills by being a caregiver for her own granddaughter.
Jarvis hopes her story will inspire others to volunteer in their communities, particularly with HospiceCare.
“HospiceCare is so proud of the hard work of not only Litz but all of our dedicated volunteers,” says HospiceCare development coordinator Missy VanBuren. “Each and every one of them holds a special place in our hearts and we are grateful for all of the compassionate care and support that they provide to our families”
HospiceCare is currently recruiting volunteers in the Greenbrier Valley. You don’t need to have any special skills, HospiceCare representative say; you just need to be a caring individual who is willing to share your time with others. HospiceCare is seeking companion volunteers, office volunteers, special events volunteers, and more.
While you are serving your community, you may find that you are also benefiting yourself.
As Jarvis says, “I think volunteering is something we should all do. It makes me less self-centered, which often happens to people. I realize how privileged I am.”
To register to volunteer or for more information, contact HospiceCare’s Amy Wade at 304-645-2700.
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