Lifting Up the Lifters: Honoring Nurses, Volunteers & Everyday Heroes

May Is for Appreciation: A Tribute to Our Everyday Heroes

May has always been a month of blooming—flowers, sunshine, and in our case, a deep sense of gratitude. Right now, business is thriving at Jeness, and while the numbers are exciting, what really fuels my pride and purpose is the people behind the success—our amazing customers and our rockstar team members. You all are the reason we continue to grow, innovate, and show up every single day with purpose.

This month, we’re wrapping our hearts around appreciation. Why? Because May 6–12 is National Nurses Week, and it’s not just any celebration—it culminates with the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Back in the 1800s, she didn’t just care for the sick—she revolutionized healthcare. She took death rates and slashed them by improving hygiene, organizing better living conditions, and bringing data to healthcare before it was cool (as a former behavior analyst, I love a woman who loves data!).

Thanks to her legacy, nursing today is a noble and necessary force that holds our healthcare system together. But let’s be honest, nursing is often a thankless job. Long hours, emotional exhaustion, and constant demands are the norm. Yet, they keep showing up—with skill, heart, and an unmatched work ethic. Sound familiar? That’s the kind of commitment we strive for in our business too.

While we're on the topic of thankless jobs, let me spotlight a group of unsung heroes I came to appreciate while volunteering at Sentara Virginia Beach General—the volunteer services team. Let me tell you, these folks are the magic behind the scenes. Whether it was guiding a lost patient, comforting someone with a kind word, or supporting the nursing staff with silent strength, their impact was huge. They remind us that support doesn’t always come with a paycheck—but it certainly deserves recognition.

So this May, as we honor nurses and those who volunteer their time to help others, I invite all of us to slow down and say thank you. To the caregivers, the helpers, the listeners, the doers—and yes, to our loyal customers and hard-working team—you are seen, and you are appreciated.

Here’s to lifting up those who lift us all.

With gratitude,
KC (aka Christina Kinerk-Cruce)

Blurb for Newsletter:

? May Is for Appreciation ?

This month, we’re feeling extra grateful. Business is strong, and it’s all thanks to you—our loyal customers—and our dedicated team who brings the magic every day.

We’re also honoring Nurses Week (May 6–12) and celebrating the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Her legacy of care and innovation lives on in every nurse who shows up with skill, compassion, and grit.

And let’s not forget the incredible volunteer services teams—especially those I had the pleasure of working alongside at Sentara Virginia Beach General. Their quiet strength and support are nothing short of heroic.

To all the helpers, healers, and everyday do-gooders: thank you. You make the world (and our work) better.

With gratitude,
KC @ Jeness