Independent Living Resident Honored with Unsung Hero Award

Gladys Lerch, an independent living resident at the Terrace at Phoebe Allentown, received a Lehigh County Unsung Hero Award at a presentation in May.

Lerch was nominated in recognition of her volunteer work in Phoebe’s Health Information Management and Human Resources Departments as well as her work with the Pastoral Care Department. She began volunteering in 2000 and still assists the Occupational Health and Safety and the Pastoral Care departments.

“I don’t know where our program would be without her help,” comments Pastor Faith Williams. Piano players are difficult to come by and Gladys faithfully plays at the monthly Terrace worship services.

She also utilizes her excellent proofreading skills by reviewing the Safe Steps newsletter distributed by the Occupational Health and Safety department, as well as the bulletins for the monthly worship services at the Terrace. Her attention to detail is much appreciated by the staff she assists.

Gladys was one of only 25 older adults in Lehigh County to receive citations from area senators and representatives during the award ceremony at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church on May 17. Her nomination was read to a group of over 100 attendees and she was joined at the ceremony by Phoebe staff members that she has worked with in her 17 years of volunteering in the organization.

The Unsung Heroes Program pays tribute to people 60 and older who, regardless of age, display exceptional generosity with their time and talents for the benefit of the community and/or to enhance the lives of others. The program salutes ordinary individuals who do extraordinary things. Unsung Heroes are people who live quietly among us, inspiring all those who are privileged to know them.