Sharon Coop, Volunteer
A minister once told Sharon, “When you share pain, you share love,”and she has been sharing both with Family House guests.
Before she joined us as a volunteer, Sharon Coop (in purple in the center of the photo above) envisioned a need in Chapel Hill for a place like Family House. When she found out that the House was being built, she immediately knew that this is where she wanted to be. Her past work as a home health nurse, spiritual director and Stephen minister had prepared her for it, and she has worked a weekly shift at the front desk since the House opened in March of 2008.
From that perch, she saw the need to create a unique environment of emotional and tangible support to some of Family House’s guests, so she started a “Prayer & Meditation” group that meets once a week at night.
Guests appreciated the opportunity to participate, and they supported each other, told their stories, laughed and cried together and were reminded of their church life at home. Sharon facilitated the group, provided a weekly lesson, and offered the time and the space for sharing or quiet reflection.
As part of this special ministry, she provided a series of small flyers called “Care Notes” which covered various topics regarding illness. These were made available for guests to take with them. In addition, Sharon and friends, including those in her church group, knit pocket shawls (pocket-sized versions of prayer shawls) for guests to keep as a reminder of the support and encouragement offered by the anonymous knitters to family members in crisis.
Realizing that, for many people, knitting serves as both a release of pent-up energy and a form of relaxation, Sharon then decided to offer knitting classes. Yarns, Etc. in Chapel Hill donated yarns and needles to be used by Family House guests. Sharon now meets twice a week with guests for a knitting circle, and our guests have told us that the time shared has been both fun and therapeutic.
Sharon’s husband taught educational psychology at UNC and is currently working with athletes as a sports psychologist. She has three children – a daughter who is an endocrinologist in Charlotte, a daughter who teaches clinical psychology at the University of Tennessee, and a son who has his own business in Raleigh.
We are fortunate to have Sharon Coop serve us and our families as a volunteer!