Surrey is fortunate and grateful to have not one, not two, but three volunteers from the Falcone/Leutner family: Pat Falcone, her sister Joanna (JoJo) Leutner, and Pat’s husband, Rob Falcone. Their warmth and enthusiasm make Surrey members feel welcome and valued.
Pat, a newly retired nurse, was introduced to Surrey in 2024, by her friend Debbie Levin, a Surrey Ambassador. Debbie invited Pat to check out Surrey in Broomall where Pat filled out an application to become a volunteer. This single visit shaped the next chapter of her life. Soon Pat’s enthusiasm for Surrey rubbed off on JoJo, who is also a retired nurse. The appeal of working with her sister while helping out at Surrey sealed the deal for her. Over time, the sisters have taken on a variety of responsibilities. They help in the Surrey café on Thursdays, serving lunches to 50 or so members and washing dishes afterward. They lead crossword puzzles and adult coloring book activities. And they also volunteered at the annual Indoor Yard Sale last October, which raised close to $2,000 for the Broomall center.
When Pat’s husband Rob heard the duo talking about Surrey and all the people they had met, he decided he wanted to experience this special place that brought such joy and fulfillment to his wife and sister-in-law. Rob, a retired financial analyst, has been volunteering for a year now. At first, he joined his wife and sister-in-law in serving lunch and washing dishes in the café, where he enjoys interacting with the members. He usually wears a Philadelphia sports teams cap—the Eagles or Phillies—to spark lively conversation, and it works. On Wednesdays, he picks up bread and baked goods donated by the Lancaster County Farmers Market in Wayne and brings them to Surrey Broomall, where members enjoy the goodies with their morning coffee and take home bread and rolls from the center’s pantry. Currently, Rob is making plans to fundraise for the new Surrey location in Media.
“Every time I have volunteered at Surrey, I feel I’ve done something good. There is no better feeling than that,” said Pat. “I’ve missed taking care of people and this work has filled that void.”