Twice a week, Lisa Lentz sits at the front desk of Providence Cancer Institute's Jill Lematta Learning Center, ready to help anyone who wanders in for information on cancer, directions or a welcoming smile. Filled with natural light, comfortable seating and engaging art, the learning center is an inviting space that attracts patients, visitors and staff seeking a quiet place to rest and contemplate.
Lisa relishes her role as a volunteer at the learning center. It’s an opportunity to exercise her professional skills as a reference librarian, and it’s also a way to honor her mother.
“My mom passed away from cancer,” she said. “And she loved libraries. Being here makes me feel connected to her, and it’s a way to give back to the community.”
An essential resource, and much more
The Jill Lematta Learning Center is located near the main entrance of the Robert W. Franz Cancer Center. People pass by on their way to appointments or meetings but are often drawn to its calming ambiance. Its main purpose is to provide patients, their families and caregivers with current resources on cancer.
Before approaching visitors, Lisa takes a moment to gauge their emotional state and openness to conversation. “Some people see information as a source of comfort, and some people, especially those with cancer, see it as scary and they don't want the information. It can make it so real,” Lisa said.
On the shelves are an array of pamphlets, books, articles and flyers on all types of cancer and treatments, as well as resources on coping, grief and emotional well-being. Children’s books offer tips on how to speak to kids about cancer.
“We check out books just like a regular library,” Lisa said. It’s a simple and efficient process: The borrower fills out a form with their contact information, and Lisa adds the book title and barcode. “We even have a silver book return slot in the hallway,” she added.
Lisa doesn’t give medical advice, but her broad research knowledge is a valuable tool when helping visitors find what they need. If there isn’t a pamphlet or book available on a shelf, visitors can browse online on one of the two public computers and print out medical related information at no cost.
Connecting to others in their time of need
In the Jill Lematta Learning Center, Lisa is more than a resource for finding information; she’s also a friendly presence when an emotionally overwhelmed visitor just needs to express feelings about their cancer experience or the experience of a family member.
“Some people just want to share a story about their lives, because cancer doesn’t define who they are it’s something that happened to them, something they’re going through. So, sometimes the conversation isn’t even about cancer, it’s about loss, suffering and how you deal with life's changes,” she said.
Lisa often thinks about a woman she met shortly after starting her volunteer role. The woman wandered in after receiving news that she had breast cancer. They talked for a long time. “She told me about her life, what brought her to this moment and how she was concerned for her family and her kids.”
Six months later, the woman returned. She told Lisa that she had recently written down the names of people who had helped her through her cancer journey – she described them as her “angels.”
“I want to let you know, you were my angel,” she told Lisa. And because of the comforting exchange she’d had at the center during that difficult time, she decided to become a volunteer.
Volunteers can help keep the doors open longer
For Lisa, the center is more than a quiet refuge, it can be a lifeline for patients and families navigating one of the most difficult chapters of their lives. She wishes it could be open every day, and that more people knew about the wealth of resources waiting inside.
But the center’s hours are limited by its volunteers, and right now, Lisa is the only one.
She believes that keeping the doors open longer would give people more opportunities to connect with others and to valuable resources. “We lost so much during the pandemic. But people are starting to come back from that, they want to engage with others in-person,” she said.
If Lisa’s story moves you, consider joining her. No medical degree or library experience is required, just a willingness to show up and be present for someone who could use a kind smile.
The Jill Lematta Learning Center is looking for volunteers, find out more.
