Exceptional Experiences at Community Health Network

Dorothy Carter, a housekeeper in environmental services, will perform in the Community Hospital North gallery on November 13 at 3:30 p.m. near the Rollins Family Chapel.

Every other Thursday, Carter comforts Community North patients, visitors and employees by singing four or five gospel songs. She has donated her time and her talent as part of an initiative to provide comfort through music to patients and visitors.

Carter has always had a love of music. She has sung in a secular band and church choirs and performed solos for different churches. She has always had a love for gospel music and she says nothing gives her as much pleasure as singing.

“I believe everything happens for a reason,” Carter says. “Months ago I read a flyer asking for people to share their talents with patients and I just put it on the back burner. Later I saw the flyer again and told myself I needed to look into it.”

She approached Dawn Hoffman about the opportunity and completed an audition for her. Soon after, Carter performed her first “gig” at Community North.

“I sort of look at it like a ministry,” Carter says. “I want it to be a blessing to somebody. I don’t consider myself to be the best singer in the world, but the Lord blessed me with a talent and I think He would want me to share it.”

Carter is the mother of three children, two girls and one boy. The Anderson resident has worked for Community North for a little more than a year. When Carter is not at work or with her family, she volunteers for the Madison County Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP) by participating in the Indiana Reading Information Services (IRIS) program.

Through IRIS, Carter volunteers to read the sports section of the newspaper to people who are visually impaired. She calls in on Wednesdays and Saturdays and records her voice so that these people can call in to listen.

“I’ve been doing it for about two months,” Carter says. “I just wanted to volunteer to help people.”