Sharon Agne - Volunteer Of The Month

Sharon AGne

Volunteer of the Month

Sharon has served as a volunteer with the CFNA health and wellness screenings ministry for the past ten years. Born and raised in St. Louis, she holds both RN and BSN degrees and has worked in hospital settings, including administration, as well as home health and hospice care for more than thirty years.

Her CFNA experience began with an invitation to the Lutheran Prayer Breakfast, where she met Carol Buckman, who encouraged her to get involved with the CFNA health and wellness screenings. Within a week, Sharon attended her first health screening and has been a mainstay ever since. Additionally, she recruited fellow Ascension Lutheran Church member and nurse Barb Hartung to participate in these screenings, which are held on Saturday mornings, ten times a year, at the Peace Center.

Sharon noted that while serving others, the practitioners are blessed to experience the cultures and personalities of those they serve. Additionally, she observed, “we are blessed with volunteers who are not only willing to identify the medical needs of each New American client but to befriend them as well. Those we serve are welcomed with a smile and are introduced to each volunteer. These introductions, however, are often met with smiles and apprehensions, which are relieved as we talk with them about their health issues. As the clients leave, they frequently offer a smile as well as a sincere thank you.”

For Sharon, the most challenging part of volunteering at the health and wellness screenings has to do with the many language barriers.  So she is thankful for the interpreters, who “play a very important part in the communication process.” These challenges, however, do not prevent her from visiting some of the clients in their homes for follow-up blood pressure readings. She also assists in driving refugees to their medical appointments.

Working with other volunteer nurses and practitioners has been one of her most enjoyable volunteer experiences. She also appreciates the opening devotions, as it reminds the volunteers they are making connections with people with whom they can share Jesus.

CFNA is blessed to have the faithful servant participation of volunteers such as Sharon!

By Laura Brink Ascension Lutheran Church