To celebrate National Volunteer Month, we spoke with AEP Ohio team members to hear how they give back to the community. Read more below:
Jayne Meyer has been volunteering since her days as a college student at The Ohio State University, reading textbooks onto tapes for blind students and volunteering as a tutor. Coming from a small rural high school where she knew everyone, Jayne used the experience to build a sense of community and belonging and to help her make friends.
“It felt good to be with people working together for a common cause,” she said. “I liked being a part of something bigger than myself, and to share the blessings I had been given. It’s a good feeling to give of yourself and expect nothing in return.”
Her spirit of giving has continued on since those days—Jayne is now a customer service account representative in Wooster and one of her favorite volunteer activities is supporting the Veterans Honor Bus.
Similar to Honor Flight, the Honor Bus takes military veterans on a trip to Washington, D.C. During the three-day, all-expenses-paid trip, veterans visit the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown, Pennsylvania, and then travel to the nation’s capital to see the memorials on the National Mall. Jayne’s responsibility is to help promote the twice-a-year trip and prepare and serve the huge meal that welcomes the veterans home.
“It’s an incredible way to honor our veterans,” she said. “It’s well supported by our community through donations, police and fire escorts into town and a welcoming committee that waves flags and cheers on the veterans when they return.”
In addition to the Honor Bus, Jayne spends a lot of time volunteering in her community with other organizations such as Ashland Main Street, Ashland County Humane Society, Hospice of North Central Ohio and at her church and her children’s schools.
You sounds the kind of person we definitely need more of. Keep up the work you are doing.
Jayne is a wonderful role model for all of us!! Her volunteer work has touched many areas of my own life experiences–veteran, blindness, God’s creatures, family, hospice, the need to belong. Thank you, Jayne and thank you AEP for telling us about Jayne!
Its so nice to hear some good news for a change. We are very grateful to have such loving and caring people like Jayne in our area helping out our veterans. Know Jayne’s family have to be so proud of her. My father was a veteran and he would have also been proud of what Jayne is doing for the veterans. They put their lives on the line for us and now we must make sure they are remembered and not forgotten. Thanks Jayne for your kindness and keep up the good work.
I would like to thank Jayne for all she does. She is a credit to her community and to herself. I wish more people would think of others and their communities. Thanks again Jayne.