Interview-Based Article
Scottish Rite - A Heartbeat Ministry by Sarah Jody
This article appeared in Good Shepherd Episcopal Church’s June 9, 2022 newsletter. The interview was conducted by phone.
Good Shepherd is happy to sponsor the popcorn machine at Scottish Rite for Children from June 8 to June 15. Scottish Rite is Jan Vaught’s heartbeat ministry—one of the ways that Good Shepherd parishioners serve our community outside of our organized outreach events.
When you ask Jan Vaught about Scottish Rite for Children, the love she has for this hospital is evident in each word she says. When you walk in, the first thing you notice is that it doesn’t smell like a hospital. It smells like popcorn, and that’s just the beginning of what makes Scottish Rite such a special place to her.
Jan has been a volunteer at the gift shop in Scottish Rite since January 2013. Her father was a mason and she always knew that one day her volunteering would be in honor of that. So when she scaled back her career in sales to two days a week, she sought out a place to serve at Scottish Rite and has been a faithful supporter ever since.
The main mission behind Scottish Rite is “giving children back their childhood.” Scottish Rite for Children is a world-renowned leader in the treatment of orthopedic conditions such as scoliosis, clubfoot, hand differences, hip disorders, sports injuries and fractures, as well as certain related arthritic and neurological disorders and learning disorders, such as dyslexia. But what makes it different from other hospitals is the atmosphere. From the moment patients and their families walk in the door, they are greeted by brightly colored mobiles hanging from the ceiling, the smell of popcorn, and kept entertained with books and toys until it’s their turn to see the doctor. Everything is geared toward making their visit as stress-free and friendly as possible, and Jan is glad to be a small part of that.
Her favorite part about working at the gift shop is using her sales experience to talk with customers and find the “just right” gift they are looking for and one that fits their interests. She currently volunteers one day a week and even though she lives in Carrollton, Scottish Rite makes it easy for volunteers to do their important work by providing free parking and free meals in the cafeteria.
We are so glad that Jan brought her heartbeat ministry to our attention. She would love to talk to anyone interested in volunteering and in joining her in making a difference in these children’s lives. You can email her to hear more about how much she loves Scottish Rite, or you can visit Scottish Rite’s website and start your volunteer application today!