At Valerie’s House, healing and helping go hand in hand. One person who truly embodies this belief is Janette L'Heureux, President of the Fort Myers Chapter of the Ladies Executive Golf Society (#LEGS). After the loss of her son, Josh, Janette found her own healing through volunteering at Valerie’s House, supporting grieving families in Southwest Florida.

A Personal Connection to Valerie's House

Janette’s journey with Valerie’s House began over eight years ago, following her son's passing. It was then that she met Angela Melvin, Founder and CEO of Valerie’s House, at a local chamber event. Since then, Janette has been an integral part of the Valerie's House family, starting as a dinner helper serving meals to families from the very first year Valerie’s House opened.

"I met Angela many years ago, actually, a little over eight years ago when my son passed away. She and I met at a chamber event, and I felt like part of my healing process was being called to volunteer at Valerie's House," Janette recalled.

Shortly after her son's death, Janette began volunteering at Valerie’s House. "A couple of months after my son was—my son passed away, I started volunteering at Valerie's House all the way up until the pandemic," she said. Although she stepped back during COVID-19, Janette has returned to support the organization, now serving meals on behalf of #LEGS. "I'm back serving dinners again on behalf of the Ladies Executive Golf Society and, of course, myself because I have a special place in my heart."

#LEGS Supporting Valerie’s House

As President of #LEGS, Janette has continued to give back through meal donations, ensuring that families attending support groups have dinner. #LEGS, a generous sponsor of Valerie’s House, plays a vital role in helping these families feel supported during difficult times. Her dedication as a dinner helper began in Valerie's House's very first year, and she continues to serve with the same passion today.

"I honestly feel like Valerie's House helped me through my son's death by giving back to other people. And it's a passion of mine. I love giving to other people," Janette said.

Healing Through Volunteering

For Janette, the process of healing involves helping others. "During the grieving process, no one should ever be alone, and I wouldn’t have made it through if I didn’t have my family, my near and dear friends, Valerie’s House, other people in my life. I just would've never—I would have never survived," she explained.

At Valerie’s House, Janette found a community of people who understand the experience of grief. "It’s important to have—to be around people, and not just people, but people that understand, right? So people that can tell you how they’re feeling, and I can tell them how I’m feeling. And we can talk it out together, and we can go through the grief process together, because no one should grieve alone."

Why Volunteering Matters

Janette’s story is one of many examples of how volunteers find fulfillment in giving back. "If you come here once and you volunteer, you're going to be hooked," she said. "Once you see these families and understand what they're going through and how important this place is to them, you’ll come back again."

At Valerie’s House, volunteers like Janette and organizations like #LEGS are a crucial part of the mission to ensure no family grieves alone. Whether it's through providing meals, offering support, or simply being present, every act of kindness makes a difference.