CityView Magazine

giving The CARE Network Sister Jean Rhoads, community leaders tear down roadblocks to provide health, dental care to 22,000 over two-decade span I By Michael Jaenicke t takes just one meeting or a chance conversation with Sister Jean Rhoads to see a magnetism that connects all things together, a charisma that can create happiness in hearts, a humbleness that is strong and unshakable and an infectious spirit that carries into all of her endeavors. Amazingly, many of these qualities can be seen from across the room. Her smile is constant, yet never forced. Her penetrating eyes make you feel as if there were no one in the room, even though you know different. Her voice and speech cantor are paced and peaceful, leaving openings for laughter, tears, facial expressions, nods and cues that make a normal interaction seem like a gift exchange at Christmas. And while you can't always see her ears because of her long hair and coif, it's secondary because Sister Jean listens with her soul. She doesn't like to be glorified and always deflects the attention and praise to a Higher Authority. Sister Jean's words and actions say, "Everything will be OK," which seems to echo through the psyche of everyone, because many times the confirmation of hope is a breakthrough that starts the rolling miracle ball. But her greatest ability may be how she inspires, motivates and bonds people together for a common cause. In most cases it's about helping another person or a group of people. It is neither ironic nor coincidental or fate that Sister Jean started a fire inside scores of Fayetteville residents 20 years ago when she came here from Baltimore to form an organization whose goal was to provide free health care for low-income residents in Cumberland County. She was merely obeying orders from the Sister Virginia Ann Brooks, leader of the Daughter's of Charity and her God. Sister Jean didn't care about the details, such as having the required experience or where money would come from to fund the venture. Things like that didn't matter because Sister Jean knew God would supply the necessities. For two decades, flocks of volunteers caught her spirit and began donating their time, money and services. Some were well-know community figures. Some were more common folk. None of that mattered.   CARE Inc. It is no by no accident that CARE is the acronym for Compassion, Assistance, Referral and Education. Through the years thousands of people have received care from medical, dental, clinical, pharmaceutical, surgical and administrative volunteers. Sister Jean's network of about 400 people got together Nov. 14 to laud 20 years of service to the low-income people. The group was wise enough to fly her in from St. Louis to be the guest speaker for the dinner. She spent six pivotal years with CARE and no one has forgotten how and what she did during the organization's formative years. Little has changed, as Sister Jean's words of unification for the cause were as strong as ever. Even the fictitious Flying Nun of TV, Sally Field, wouldn't have stirred the crowd more than Sister Jean, who could personalize the same message a thousand times over: "While our nation is attempting to get affordable health care there will always be people falling through the cracks," she said. "They don't have names or numbers, but they are your mother, your brother, your sister or your father. About 48,000 adults in the county have no health insurance." CityViewNC.com | 33

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