For the love of people: Retired nurse now volunteers at community services center

Published 7:22 am Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Retired nurse Teresa Hardy is still finding places to help people.

The long-time Clark County resident still works a little bit, but one day a week she volunteers at Clark County Community Services.

“I volunteer because I enjoy people,” she said. “I enjoy being able to help people and I like being able to educate people on their needs.

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Hardy mainly works Fridays at Community Services’ intake desk, plus distributing senior commodities once a month, she said.

“I do assessments on new clients and I fill out paperwork for them to get food,” she said. “Then I do whatever else they need me to do.”

Sometimes that involves her medical training.

“I’ve had a lot of (times) just where people passed out or had chest pains,” she said. “It makes me happy to be able to help. You can’t ask for any reward other than a good feeling.”

Helping others was ingrained in Hardy before she became a nurse.

“I (volunteer) because I’m able to do it,” she said. “I was raised to help people if you can. I may be in that boat one day.”

Hardy is passing that lesson on as well.

“I’ve been bringing my grandson since he was 3,” she said. “He’s 8.

“I’m trying to raise him to have a giving spirit and to realize there are people less fortunate than us. He needs to learn that at a young age. It ended up that he wanted to do it.”

Hardy said he often asks when she’s going to CCCS so he can go along. On a recent Friday when school was canceled, Hardy and her grandson were both there, ready to do whatever is needed.

“I think it’s important to be involved in your community,” she said.

About Fred Petke

Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.

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