17 Jul Volunteer Spotlight: Wendy Tarson
Our wonderful volunteers play a crucial role in providing a pleasant and welcoming “home-away-from-home.” It takes everyone using his or her unique gifts and talents to make the House so special. Wendy Tarson is a volunteer who uses her love of flowers and her green thumb to keep the House near Egleston colorful and in bloom. Wendy can always be seen with a watering can maintaining the plants and flowers seen around the House.
Wendy began volunteering at ARMHC in March of 2013, lending a hand wherever needed. Last summer Wendy created what she calls the “Flower Therapy Program.” This program is generously sponsored by the Druid Hills Garden Club. Every month Wendy helps the patients and their families create a colorful flower arrangement to decorate the House. “It’s so nice to see them enjoy the flowers. It’s great that even Dads want to come participate in the flower arranging!”
Having previously worked at the Chicago Botanic Garden as a Horticulture Therapist, Wendy wanted to share her talent and love for flowers with the families of ARMHC. “There are plenty of activities for the children but not many for the adults. I wanted to provide an activity parents and children could enjoy together,” Wendy explains.
It is important to Wendy that the families are active and enjoy their time while at ARMHC. Wendy explained that her favorite aspect of the “Flower Therapy Program” is that anyone can do it. “It doesn’t matter what the disability or illness is. We will tailor to it.”
We are thankful for Wendy Tarson and the Druid Hills Garden Club for their support, donations and dedication.