Today we’d like to introduce you to Gerry Roe.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Nurse’s Dedication Powers Hearts for Hospice’s Mission
I am Gerry Roe, a long-time resident of Springfield, Oregon. Having lived here both earlier in my life and now in retirement, I am proud to call this community home.
After a decades-long career in nursing, I have devoted much of my retirement to making a difference for those who need affordable medical equipment and supplies. As a volunteer of many years, with Hearts for Hospice, a nonprofit medical resale shop, I serve in a way that perfectly aligns with my medical background and my passion for helping others.
From an early age, I always wanted to help others, which led me to pursue a career in nursing. My nursing path began in 1964 after graduating from Drain High School. That fall, I enrolled at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland, Oregon, and graduated in 1967 as a diploma nurse. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working in many areas of nursing, with my last 20 years spent as a Hospice nurse.
Now, I volunteer with Hearts for Hospice, a medical resale store that provides affordable equipment and supplies to people in the Springfield area. The compassion, empathy, and commitment to dignity that defined my nursing career now guide how I interact with the clients I serve as a volunteer. It is a natural continuation of my lifelong commitment to helping others.
Long before I retired, I envisioned a resource like Hearts for Hospice, inspired by a hospice resale shop I saw in another part of Oregon. Motivated by that experience, I advocated for a similar store in the 1990s and again in 2004. Both times, the proposals were well received, but the projects were ultimately scrapped due to a lack of volunteer support.
But fate had a different plan. After moving back to Springfield, I discovered Hearts for Hospice in its infancy—then just a handful of volunteers organizing garage sales. When the shop at 444 Main Street opened, a chance meeting with a volunteer named Marge led me to help organize its medical equipment and supplies. That was in 2013, and I have been a dedicated volunteer ever since.
In my thirteen years with Hearts for Hospice, I have witnessed remarkable growth. The organization has expanded from having a few clients to being a regular resource for individuals, facilities, hospitals, home care agencies, and others. Today, we not only support the local community but also donate surplus items to other nonprofits, including those that serve international communities.
Yet challenges remain. We are always in need of more volunteers and donations, but the hardest part for me is not being able to help everyone who comes to us. Despite our best efforts, there are times when we simply don’t have the equipment someone needs. It is never easy to turn people away or know we can’t provide the support they need. My compassion runs deep, and it weighs on me when I cannot assist individuals or families as fully as I wish.
What I value most about my work is the people I work with. My fellow volunteers are dedicated and make each day meaningful. Their commitment, along with Hearts for Hospice’s mission—to serve with compassion and understanding, acting as supportive companions rather than just vendors—inspires me every day. I look forward to helping Hearts for Hospice continue to grow and make an even greater difference in our community.
A special ceremony May 1st occurred at the warehouse, Ribbon cutting ceremony with the following day the Grand Opening of the warehouse. Continuing growth of Hearts for Hospice.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Retired RN and volunteer with Hearts for Hospice, medical and professional background
Pricing:
- Varies depends on items
