The Lives They Touch by Vanessa Houk

1203.Joy.04
605 words

Their wealth is measured by
The Lives They Touch
By Vanessa Houk

While grief does not cause addictions, Donna Taylor understands that grief and addiction are often interconnected.

Robin Turgesen, Donna Taylor and Jodi Yap are three local women who are truly making a difference. Through their dedication, all three are chipping away at some of the toughest social problems our community faces. These are women who care about people who might otherwise be forgotten.
Robin Turgesen, director of the Jackson County Vital Links program, is a maternal child health nurse who does home visits in Jackson County. She says of the program, "This is where high risk pregnant women find help." Robin’s typical workday might include helping a woman who has been a victim of domestic violence or a pregnant woman addicted to methamphetamine.
Although many of the women Robin helps are on the Oregon Health Plan, without a helping hand, they often fall through the cracks, never receiving the services they so desperately need. Robin is there to answer their questions and make sure they get into safe housing or a treatment program if needed. She also provides tangible help like food and clothing. Robin’s efforts do not go unnoticed. "Many people refer their friends to us," she says. These are women who are cautious about whom they trust, Robin notes, so referrals mean the highest form of praise.
While grief does not cause addictions, Donna Taylor understands that grief and addiction are often interconnected. In order to stay sober, people often need to come to terms with unresolved guilt first. And this where Donna and the WinterSpring Center for Living with Loss and Grief bridge the gap. "In my own life I have been fortunate to have been surrounded by people who understood grief," she says. It is her fervent hope “that other people can find similar support." She’s passionate about her work and recognizes that "beyond the pain of grief is a path to better understanding and appreciation for life."
While working on a program to reduce teen pregnancy, Donna witnessed how often grief and teen pregnancy co-exist. "Unresolved grief leads to self-destructive behavior and WinterSpring's teen program helps young people make better decisions," Donna says.
Jodi Yap’s mission began innocently enough in 1997. In talking to a friend who was a special education teacher, she learned of a student who needed to develop better reading skills. Jodi thought a computer might help, so she and her husband Jerry located one. After using it for a year, the student went from a 5th to an 8th grade reading level. A seed was planted when they saw how a computer changed one student’s life. What started as a side-interest soon grew into a nonprofit organization, Computers 2 Kids.
By May 2003, Computers 2 Kids had provided 862 donated computers to Rogue Valley residents—victims of domestic violence, handicapped veterans, low-income individuals and families—who lacked the resources to buy a computer themselves. Jodi and Jerry also donate computers to area schools. “One of the greatest benefits is seeing how a child grows and then how the whole family is affected when they get a computer," she says. "We have one lady who is handicapped and now she is doing graphic arts and is able to pay her own rent. It is satisfying to play a part in that." The donated computers help people attain the skills they need to get better jobs, stay off public assistance and regain their self-esteem.
With passion, commitment and generosity, Robin Turgesen, Donna Taylor and Jodi Yap stand as living examples of how one person can make a difference. If true wealth is measured by the lives we touch, then Robin, Donna and Jodi are rich indeed.