Although Mary West is normally confident maneuvering her walker, the thick gravel on the driveway outside her Lexington home makes her hesitate.

But before “Miss Mary’’ can even turn around for help, June Britt is at her side, gently grasping her elbow and steering her to the open door of Britt’s sport-utility vehicle.

Britt is taking Miss Mary to a doctor’s appointment, and Miss Mary does not like to be late. Britt guides her into the passenger seat, Miss Mary easily swinging her legs inside. Then Britt pulls the shoulder harness down and reaches across to snap it in place, ensuring Miss Mary is snug.

For Miss Mary, 92, Britt’s assistance fulfills a critical need.

“She has really been a blessing to me. She carries me to the doctors, and if I need a meal she brings me a meal. And I call her when I have problems,’’ Miss Mary says. “Sometimes I think she gets worried with me.”

A lifelong love of helping others

As a FaithHealth Connector, Britt is realizing a lifelong love of helping others through her work with people such as Miss Mary. Britt became a Connector after retiring from a longtime job as an ombudsman for the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Education Services.

In that role, Britt listened to parents and worked to make sure children had equal access to learning, and fair and equitable treatment. She brings that people-oriented approach and her problem-solving skills to her Connector role.

Britt, one of two FaithHealth Connectors in Lexington, fulfills her mission in two ways:

• She personally provides rides, assistance and companionship to those referred by providers, congregations, friends and agencies.
• She arranges volunteer networks to offer assistance, especially for those who need long-term help. Britt’s church, Union Baptist Church in Lexington, has 17 trained FaithHealth volunteers to provide different types of assistance to people in need. Several other Davidson County churches also have FaithHealth volunteers.

Miss Mary has nieces, nephews and friends who help her on occasion. But she no longer drives, and she often needs assistance in other ways — daytime trips to the hairdresser, the pharmacy or one of her frequent doctor appointments. Although she is generally healthy, Miss Mary is a diabetic and has shoulder problems stemming from a recent fall in her home.

“Two other FaithHealth volunteers from Union Baptist helped Miss Mary when I couldn’t,’’ Britt says. “And they’ve fallen in love with Mary, too. Now, she checks in with them and they check on her, too.’’

To help meet some of the needs

Britt, born and raised in Lexington, has learned things as a Connector that she hadn’t known about her community.

“I just didn’t realize how many people in Lexington and Davidson County were without food,’’ she says. “To be able to help meet some of those needs is a blessing.”

She has helped young people as well as the elderly in desperate situations, working with church pantries and other sources of food.

“I don’t do this in and of myself,’’ Britt says. “God enabled me to do it. He gives me the strength to reach out and help.”

She smiles frequently and her voice dances when talking about the relationship she’s developed with Miss Mary, who is set in her ways.

As Miss Mary made her way to the back door for her recent doctor’s appointment, a thought suddenly occurred to her. She paused, her walker straddling the threshold leading to her porch. She looked back over her shoulder.

“Coffee pot?” she called out.

The words weren’t even out of her mouth before Britt replied.

“It’s off, Miss Mary.’’

It was safe to leave.