May 5, 2021

Get To Know Volunteer Coordinator: Susan Joynt

After a long career in event planning and fundraising, Susan Joynt was looking for another opportunity to utilize her skills.
 
That's when EveryStep Hospice came into her life.
 
"My mother was on hospice in Emmetsburg and it was a peaceful experience for everyone," she says. "I was looking fo ra job change that would eventually bring back the opportunity for me to use my music therapy degree."
 
And so, nine years ago, Susan became the hospice volunteer coordinator for the metro Des Moines-area.
 
"I am humbled daily by our volunteers' willingness to serve people who are most vulnerable," Susan says of her favorite aspect of being a volunteer coordinator. "They share their gifts without really realizing how special they are."
 
Watching all that volunteers do for the organization is a highlight for Susan.
 
"Everyday tasks that the volunteers do from folding laundry, sitting with a dying patient, giving a caregiver a much needed break, delivering mail or making deliveries to patients’ homes…the list goes on," she says. "These moments humble me every day. They are certainly a gift to many."
 
As a volunteer coordinator, Susan says there is more "behind the scenes" work being done than you might realize, with many moving parts to the position.
 
But she's been able to not only juggle those tasks, but also find time to serve herself.
 
"I'm also a music therapist for EveryStep and provide this support to patients in our metro, Perry and Kavanagh House teams," she says.
 
The love of music runs deep in Susan's family, which includes her spouse – an elementary school principal – and a 21-year-old son who will soon graduate from the University of Northern Iowa.
 
"We are a musical family, so there is always music playing in at least one room of our house," she says, adding that they also enjoy kayaking and taking long walks with their two dogs.
 
"I really enjoy it here," she says of her home in Des Moines. "It is just the right size to do as much or as little as you want to do."

Want to make a difference in people’s lives and work for a mission-focused organization? Please visit our careers page.