Sometimes it’s the little things that a person does in life that will create a chain reaction to inspire someone to make the difference in the lives of thousands of people in their time of need.
Janet Frazier is one example of how the little things can have a large impact. In her time of need, a nurse shared half her sandwich with her. She will never forget that moment and has been working to return the favor to others who are in a similar situation she faced nearly 14 years ago.
That one gesture kicked started the formation of The Network of Care who now enters its 10 Year Anniversary.
Later this month, Janet Frazier is being honored by the Contra Costa Commission for Women Hall of Fame as one of eight women being inducted—Frazier is being honored in the Women Improving Health Care category.
“I was shocked. My first impression was shock because I had no idea I they were even considering me. I just felt very proud to be honored with all the other women who do great things,” said Frazier.
The Women’s Hall of Fame acknowledges those exceptional, multifaceted women who have enhanced life in Contra Costa County through their careers and volunteer activities. The honorees have made a difference through their efforts towards equity, innovation, service or achievement in commerce or community outreach. The event is scheduled for March 20 at 6:30 pm at the Concord Crown Plaza.
In December of 2000, Jim and Janet Frazier were at a hospital after a tragic car accident where their daughter Stephanie passed and another daughter, Lindsey, was left critically injured. After a long night, Janet stood up and nearly fainted. It was at that point a nurse shared half a sandwich with her.
That simple act of kindness made all the difference in the world to both Jim and Janet Frazier in knowing there are people that care. The Network of Care Foundation was established in Stephanie’s memory to support other parents in their time of need. The foundation operates exclusively on donations where they provide a bag meal and other goodies so families can stay next to their children.
After 10 years of operation, Janet still cannot believe how quickly their growth occurred.
“I would have never believed how big this has become if you would have asked me this 10 years ago. It just snowballed. We grew through the years but we grew very quickly. Years two and three it seemed like we had a new hospital every week with more shopping and new deliveries. I never realized what it could be in the beginning,” explained Frazier.
Still, it comes back to a single act of kindness from a nurse that got the program started.
“The nurse did something nice for us out of kindness. She did it out of care, not thinking this lady would turn her good deed into a program to help so many people and have a program with volunteers,” said Frazier. “The award glorifies how you can make a difference. The receiver of the purple bag we provide will help them, but also inspire them to want to help others in their time of need.”
Frazier explained that all it takes is actions to help others. Big or small, it’s the action that matters and the effort one puts in.
“So many people say they are going to do something to help others because of the story. We did something out of a tragedy. It gives them the idea they can do something and they can do something if they work at it. They just have to find that niche, even if it’s small,” explained Frazier.
Frazier further explained that their program was a niche that expanded into something bigger. The program is successful because of the many volunteers.
“Volunteers are the backbone and why we are successful,” said Frazier. “Our organization has only progressed because of our volunteers. We have new volunteers all the time and same core of volunteers.”
She calls those who volunteer “awesome” and are the reason they have touched so many people in their time of need. Since the beginning of The Network of Care, a core group of volunteers have remained. The volunteers can relate to Jim and Janet’s situation and now want to make a difference, while many cannot image what it would be like if their children were in the hospital and that’s why they want to help.
The Network of Care has also incorporated the Special Needs Community to help pack food and volunteer while allowing them to be a part of something that helps others.
“They volunteer as part of school curriculum, they fill such a great need because the demand from the hospitals has increased so rapidly, we can’t keep up,” explained Frazier. “It’s part of their community based instruction program. They learn vocational training and skills to gain employment. The feedback from students and teachers are they love it. They help prepare the bags for shipping.”
The foundation has also expanded to provide craft kits. These are distributed for siblings of patients who come to visit their brothers and sisters. They also donate blankets.
“I feel so honored to be a part of a group of women that I am being honored with. To see what all the other women have done is so exciting and I am so proud of this honored to be selected for this honor,” said Frazier. “One day we are handing out a bag, ten years later to be in a Hall of Fame is humbling.”
To learn more about The Network of Care, visit www.thenetworkofcare.org. To learn more about the Contra Costa Commission for Women, visit www.womenscommission.com.
8th Annual Network of Care Crab Feed
The Network of Care will be celebrating their 10th Anniversary when they host their 8th Annual Crab Feed to benefit families of hospitalized children on Saturday March 15. The event will have have raffle prizes and a silent auction to go along with dinner.
The doors to the event open at 5:30 pm with dinner to begin at 7:00 pm. Tickets are just $55 and must be purchased ahead of time–no tickets will be sold at the door. The event will be held at Antioch Fairgrounds- Sunset Building at 1201 West 10th Street, Antioch, CA
Call or e-mail to reserve your tickets: Janet Frazier at (925) 584-4086 or [email protected]
2 comments
Congratulations! You earned it with all your hard work.
Awesome job Janet. Congrats!
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