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2019 Winner Volunteer of the Year Award

Jeanne Barry, RSM

ReFocus, Inc. is proud to nominate Sister Jeanne Barry, a religious Sister of Mercy, for the
Volunteer of the Year  award. For years, Sister Jeanne was a teacher and, then, the principal at OurLady of Mercy School in East Greenwich before eventually leaving to teach at Mercymount
Country Day School. While at Mercymount, Sister Jeanne was in charge of the Community Outreach Program. This program was designed to pair Mercymount students with nonprofit agencies forvolunteering opportunities.

Five years ago, Sister Jeanne connected with ReFocus for a way to get the students atMercymount involved with our organization. The students were a wonderful fit and beganparticipating in the Gardening Program at our Gilbane Community Center. After a day spent with the clients, Sister Jeanne would have her students reflect on their experiences at our Agency and about what they learned that day. These reflections often led to very deep conversations among the students. One student’s experience was truly moving; he had spent the day interacting with a client, who seemed to be a loner from the group. The student remarked that he enjoyed his time because heconsiders himself to be a loner, and it was nice to be able to relate and be there for one of our clients in a way that was familiar to himself.

Although she retired from education in 2017, Sister Jeanne continues to volunteer with a smile at ReFocus every Monday. She is always ready to pitch in with whatever needs to be done. Over the years, Sister Jeanne has become a very popular addition among the many folks and staff with whom she interacts. Her life experiences and vast amount of knowledge add to our day-to-day activities and our clients always enjoy hearing her educational and interesting stories. Her skills, talent, joy and willingness to help never cease to amaze the staff with whom she is partnered. 

No matter the task at hand, Sister Jeanne always applies every ounce of her being. Whiledecorating our handicap ramp for the various holidays throughout the year, she uses her expert skills at gift wrapping to truly make the holiday spirit shine through. Sister Jeanne is still very active in her parish as well as serving as a board member for various foundations and schools she had volunteered at over the years.

Sister Jeanne Barry is a truly remarkable volunteer for our Agency. Not only does heroverwhelmingly pleasant attitude bring a smile to all those with whom she interacts, but her efforts to include the young students from Mercymount with our organization, and teach the students theimportance of volunteering with the members of our community are appreciated. At ReFocus, we strive for our clients to be a part of a loving, trusting, and challenging environment. Sister Jeanne’svolunteering, as well as her initial inclusion of the Mercymount students, ensure that those threeprinciples reverberate in the minds of the next generation of volunteers.