Volunteer of the Year: Sherri Rizzo
National Volunteer Week is April 21-27, and this year, Brio Living Services has something special to celebrate. LeadingAge Michigan, an organization that represents mission-based providers of elder care, offers a volunteer of the year award to a volunteer who has provided extraordinary service to older adults with dedication, commitment, and contributions that have improved the lives of older adults and made a positive impact on the organization. The volunteer being honored in 2024 is our very own Sherri Rizzo.
Sherri Rizzo moved with her husband, Ed, in 2018 to Chelsea Retirement Community (CRC) in the Independent Living Prairie Cottages community. Widowed in 2021, Sherri has become a trusted volunteer at CRC, across the entire campus and, in doing so, has brought joy and purpose to many residents.
Kori Rochefort, Assisted Living Life Enrichment Coordinator, says, “Sherri keeps things running smoothly. When Sherri signs up to volunteer an event in Assisted Living, I know that it will be a great event. She helps with the setup, goes room to room encouraging residents to attend, she is hands on with helping at the event, and helps with the cleanup. She will even start early in the week getting residents excited for events, as she visits with her therapy dog, Ziva. This level of help takes the stress off our Life Enrichment team and gives the residents a fun event experience.”
Sherri keeps the community connected as a volunteer across the continuum of care offered at CRC. She serves as a familiar face for residents who may move across the continuum from independent living to assisted living and skilled nursing. She is able to share with the Life Enrichment team at the next level of care what that resident enjoyed doing previously, which helps in the resident’s transition. Sherri’s volunteer work is an exemplary example of our new Balanced Living initiative at CRC. This month’s theme is “Community Connections,” bridging connections between all who live or work at CRC, and providing comfort as residents move through the continuum of care.
Sherri has a reputation for being a good neighbor, even helping those around her find purpose by encouraging them to join her in volunteering. Hazel Mead, Independent Living Life Enrichment Coordinator, says, “At least twice a month, Sherri will lead a program in independent living and bringing homemade cookies. One resident did not participate, but would come through and enjoy a cookie and conversation with the group. When that resident moved to a different area of campus, Sherri made a point of bringing baked cookies on a regular basis to this resident and
visiting her in her new home. Sherri sees what matters to individuals and what is important to them in that moment.”
Known for her creative approach to meeting the CRC community’s multifaceted needs, Sherri spent hours of time laboring to restore a teak wood bench in CRC’s Chapel Meditation Garden. She also initiated themed monthly cabinet displays across our campus, which include items that our residents across campus have collected over the years, from tea cups to wedding dresses. Sherri also interviews many new residents for articles in the CRC Reporter monthly resident newsletter and regularly writes about residents who are turning 100.
Brio is always looking for volunteers like Sherri who embody Brio’s Guiding Beliefs of integrity, wellness, inclusiveness, stewardship, excellence, and community. To learn more about volunteer opportunities at Brio Living Services, visit MyBrio.org.