Miss-Delectable
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The Shawnee Dispatch / Shawnee volunteer spreads deaf cultural awareness
JoAnne and Tom Lightfoot of Shawnee are an example of how deaf residents can succeed in a hearing world.
Peggy Remy said the Lightfoots, her parents, always have led active lives despite their hearing impairment.
“Both my parents are very talented, they can repair almost anything, they do a lot of woodworking and crafts. They are also avid gardeners,” Remy said. “It is my opinion that they have always tried to excel at everything they do so that hearing people will treat them with equal respect.”
The Lightfoots’ efforts also are important to the deaf culture. For the past four years, they have volunteered at the Deaf Cultural Center in Olathe, helping to give hearing people a better understanding of the deaf, and JoAnne was recently recognized as the center’s volunteer of the year for 2009.
Now retired, JoAnne and Tom have lived in Shawnee since 1959. They have raised five hearing daughters, all of whom reside in the area. In addition to her work with the Deaf Culture Center, JoAnne is involved with other groups for the deaf, such as the Hen’s Club and Supper Club.
JoAnne received her award Jan. 19. Sandra Kelly, executive director for the center, said the volunteer of the year is selected by adding up the number of hours an individual puts in during a calendar year. Lightfoot had 245 hours for the 2009 calendar year, though Kelly said that number was probably too low.
“Often volunteers have worked beyond (their recorded) number, and certainly JoAnne is one of those individuals who has put in extra time,” Kelly said. “JoAnne is such a delight, always has a smile on her face, and I look forward to the times when she is here working.”
There are about 60 volunteers at the center who gave a total of 3,168 hours last year.
“Volunteers keep the center running,” Kelly said. “Many of their hours are spent as docents for the center, helping with fundraising planning and events, running the gift shop, assisting with light yard maintenance, and generally helping wherever help is needed.”
The Deaf Cultural Center was built in 2001 as a resource for information on issues related to hearing loss, and the William J. Marra Museum on Deaf History and Deaf Culture was installed there in the fall of 2005.
For additional information about the Deaf Cultural Center, visit deafculturalcenter.org.
JoAnne and Tom Lightfoot of Shawnee are an example of how deaf residents can succeed in a hearing world.
Peggy Remy said the Lightfoots, her parents, always have led active lives despite their hearing impairment.
“Both my parents are very talented, they can repair almost anything, they do a lot of woodworking and crafts. They are also avid gardeners,” Remy said. “It is my opinion that they have always tried to excel at everything they do so that hearing people will treat them with equal respect.”
The Lightfoots’ efforts also are important to the deaf culture. For the past four years, they have volunteered at the Deaf Cultural Center in Olathe, helping to give hearing people a better understanding of the deaf, and JoAnne was recently recognized as the center’s volunteer of the year for 2009.
Now retired, JoAnne and Tom have lived in Shawnee since 1959. They have raised five hearing daughters, all of whom reside in the area. In addition to her work with the Deaf Culture Center, JoAnne is involved with other groups for the deaf, such as the Hen’s Club and Supper Club.
JoAnne received her award Jan. 19. Sandra Kelly, executive director for the center, said the volunteer of the year is selected by adding up the number of hours an individual puts in during a calendar year. Lightfoot had 245 hours for the 2009 calendar year, though Kelly said that number was probably too low.
“Often volunteers have worked beyond (their recorded) number, and certainly JoAnne is one of those individuals who has put in extra time,” Kelly said. “JoAnne is such a delight, always has a smile on her face, and I look forward to the times when she is here working.”
There are about 60 volunteers at the center who gave a total of 3,168 hours last year.
“Volunteers keep the center running,” Kelly said. “Many of their hours are spent as docents for the center, helping with fundraising planning and events, running the gift shop, assisting with light yard maintenance, and generally helping wherever help is needed.”
The Deaf Cultural Center was built in 2001 as a resource for information on issues related to hearing loss, and the William J. Marra Museum on Deaf History and Deaf Culture was installed there in the fall of 2005.
For additional information about the Deaf Cultural Center, visit deafculturalcenter.org.