Rosemary Balady was approaching a long-planned and much-anticipated retirement as a physician. As she considered what she wanted to do, she came across a story about the Ignatian volunteer program in her church bulletin in 2018 and was intrigued by the unique approach to service work aimed at enriching the spiritual life of mature professionals. At the time, Rosemary was already volunteering at a day shelter which she found tremendously rewarding, but “God had a better plan.” The day shelter chose not to partner with IVC as they reopened and Rosemary decided to try volunteering at Springwell.
Based in Waltham, MA., Springwell’s mission is to provide services to the elderly and disabled so they can remain independent. One challenge is food insecurity. Rosemary helps in the Home Delivered Meals program several days a week, bringing a meal for the day which also provides a wellness check to seniors and others who may be isolated.
Delivering on the Corps Mission
Springwell’s mission is to provide services to the elderly and disabled so they can remain independent. One challenge is food insecurity. Rosemary helps in the Home Delivered Meals program several days a week, bringing a meal for the day which also provides a wellness check to seniors and others who may be isolated.
Even though she returned to the day shelter as pandemic restrictions lifted, she enjoyed her work with Springwell so much that she continued delivering meals, later championing Springwell to become an official IVC service partner. She now spends all her time as an IVC volunteer with Springwell.
Even though she returned to the day shelter as pandemic restrictions lifted, she enjoyed her work with Springwell so much that she continued delivering meals, later championing Springwell to become an official IVC service partner. She now spends all her time as an IVC volunteer with Springwell.
From Volunteer to Board Member
In 2021, she was honored to be asked to join the Springwell Board as their first at-large volunteer member. Rosemary says, ”I love being on the Board, as I am part of the larger organization and am witness to the many ways they enrich the lives of the senior and disabled community.”
While Rosemary also loves delivering meals, she found unexpected satisfaction from initiating the partnership with IVC and joining the Board, saying: “I am more of a boots-on-the-ground type, so working in the management sphere is a new and rewarding experience.”
“During my career I was so grateful to agencies for providing my patients and their families with the services they needed so they didn’t need hospitalization. It is a pleasure for me now to be on the other side and see people doing well in their homes.”
Rosemary feels that it is especially meaningful to participate in IVC’s monthly meetings and to have a spiritual reflector. The feedback from my reflector and other members of the corps community gives an added joy to my volunteering: “I am truly blessed, by the clients who welcome me to their homes and often send thanks and blessings my way, and by the dedicated staff who amaze me with their hard work and patience.”
Thank you, Rosemary, for your dedication and for making a positive impact on our community!
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