The following staff spotlight appears in the most recent issue of the Joseph & Mary’s Home newsletter, The Journey. Read the full newsletter here.

Staff Spotlight: Terry Green – Resident Support Associate

Known around Joseph & Mary’s Home as “by the book Green,” Terry Green has been a resident support associate for nearly four years. He helps ensure there is coverage 24/7/365 and works on different nights the second shift (4:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.) and third shift (12:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.). Raven Kauffman, respite care manager, recruited Terry to Joseph’s Home after having been his supervisor at Oriana House in Cleveland. As a recovering alcoholic having reached 30 years of sobriety, Terry said he views working with residents as “giving back.”

Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job?

A: There are a couple of residents who have been at Joseph’s Home and come back to see me afterwards. There is a couple who had cancer and would need rides to hospital. When they didn’t have rides on weekends, they would call me up. The biggest thrill is seeing them get a job or apartment and moving on.

Q: What is your superpower?

A: I’m easy to talk to. Anyone knows they can come to me. For new people, I do a lot of filling in, information they may not realize when first moving in.

Q: How did you get the nickname “by the book Green?”

A: I’m lenient, but I’m by the book. I’d rather tell you what the rule is, so you know it and don’t get in trouble. I try to make sure everyone is treated the same way, gets served the same amount of food. If they leave and forget to write down that they want a meal, I save one for when they come back. If they ask me a question that I don’t know, I make sure they are in touch with who does know.

Q: What do you wish people knew about Joseph & Mary’s Home?

A: There are people who work here who really care about others. It’s not about the pay. I’m a person that loves helping people. That is my nature.

Q: Outside of work, what do you like to do?

A: I go to AA meetings, I pray. I love my Cleveland sports teams. I read just about anything.