Volunteer Spotlight with Crystal Muench
August 26, 2020 by hospice
Crystal Muench works every week to arrange the floral donations from our community partner, Trader Joes, into beautiful flower arrangements for our patients.
What drew you to hospice volunteering?
My childhood best friend’s daughter died of a rare type of brain cancer at the age of five. During this, I was exposed to the work of the hospice volunteers that assisted her in their home and the hospital. After her passing, I decided to go back to school for social work because I wanted to be that person who helped change someone’s life for the better. I’m in school now, and volunteering allows me to stay connected to the hospice care community and truly hone my skills while I’m pursuing an education.
You help organize and design the flowers that Trader Joes generously donates to the Inspiring Hospice Foundation for our patients every week. Have you worked in the floral industry before, because your arrangements are amazing?!
In middle school, I worked in a nursery planting seeds, and by the end of the season, I had worked my way into the greenhouse where we monitored the plants that were grown. In high school, I worked in a wholesale nursery and eventually worked why up to the trees, and flowering plants. I love working with the soil, and if I can’t be out in the woods, at least I can occasionally get my hands dirty, helping the community.
You have a real artistic eye, do you live a creative life or is floral arranging the extent of your artistry?
I do not live an artistic life; I learned about composition, balance, and framing from my ex-husband, who is a professional photographer with an incredible eye. He truly taught me to look at the world differently and find beauty in everyday objects.
Thank you so much for your volunteer work and for giving so freely of your time to our foundation and the patients we serve.