Jane Lucas

 

            Jane Lucas has been volunteering at two nursing homes in Roanoke for 7 years.  Before she started volunteering she worked as a dental assistant and owned a craft store that was open for about 5 or 6 years. Since she isn’t working and has a lot of free time she plays piano once a week and she plays about 50 songs an hour memorized. When she plays she always makes sure to choose songs that she knows the people there will enjoy. Mrs. Lucas lives in Roanoke, Virginia and has 8 grandchildren.

            Mrs. Lucas is very determined to play the music that she knows and also the ones that people request. She loves when people come up to her and tell her they knew the song she played or when someone asks her to play a certain song. “Its surprising to me when people come to the piano and say they remember that particular piece or they come and ask me to play something.” She is also a very compassionate person when it comes to her playing because it’s something she loves to do and it’s her gift that she wants to share with the world. “I was given this talent, I play by ear mostly.” Not only is Mrs. Lucas a determined and compassionate person, but she is also very caring about what she does. She has been doing this for a really long time and she has talked to and played for many different people.  When she plays she doesn’t do it just to do something good, she does it because she really cares about helping these people. “I don’t play for myself, I play for them.”

            Mrs. Lucas is a very caring and determined person. She goes to these nursing homes to play for people and they all really enjoy her coming. Mrs. Lucas is a Hidden Hero because of her determination and the love she puts in for what she does.