Mount Joy Volunteer Brings Joy and Connection to Juniper Village Residents

Mount Joy, PA - Rachel Beatrice Kreider, a young adult local to Lancaster County, has been spreading smiles at Juniper Village at Mount Joy since she began volunteering in July 2025. She is named Rachel after the woman from the Bible, a connection that is meaningful and important to her. Every Thursday, Rachel delivers newspapers to residents, greets them by name, and brings a cheerful presence to the community.

“I love it,” Rachel said simply, reflecting on her role. Her joy is evident to everyone around her, from residents to Juniper team members.

Rachel chose Juniper because it is local, and because she wanted to take her natural love of people and use it for good. Since starting, she has completed volunteer orientation, and proudly wears her volunteer badge, a symbol of her commitment and achievement.

Known for her warmth and energy, Rachel has built meaningful friendships with Juniper residents. She has a special bond with one resident she visits regularly. She memorizes everyone’s names so she can greet them individually and often knocks on doors or pops into common areas to make people laugh. Juniper associates affectionately call her their “special delivery,” and everyone agrees: Rachel brings happiness wherever she goes.

“Rachel is a wonderful person. We love having her on our team of volunteers. She is always making others smile,” said Katie Erb, Connections Director at Juniper Village at Mount Joy.

Juniper Village celebrates diversity and inclusion, and Rachel’s presence demonstrates the positive impact volunteers can have. Her weekly visits, as well as recently helping pick up newspapers from the merchandiser to talk with residents about the news, show that meaningful contributions come in many forms.

Rachel is grateful to Independent Options Office, the organization that provides her with supportive services, acknowledging their role in helping her make a difference in her community.

Now living independently in her own apartment since July 2024, Rachel exemplifies how young adults with special needs can thrive while giving back. She enjoys bowling and flipping through magazines, but it’s her interactions with residents that shine brightest. She’s so committed to her volunteer role that she wanted to volunteer on holidays, sharing extra joy with Juniper residents.

Through her volunteering, Rachel shows that people from all walks of life have the power to make a difference, and Juniper Village at Mount Joy provides the space for those connections to flourish.

Juniper Village at Mount Joy is located at 607 Hearthstone Lane, Mount Joy, PA 17552. For more information, please call (717) 493-8160 or visit www.junipermountjoy.com.

About Juniper Communities

Juniper Communities, a leader in quality, value, and innovation, owns and operates senior living communities in Colorado, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas that emphasize the well-being, interaction and security of those who call Juniper home. Our approach to housing and care offers community members the opportunity to live a full life, regardless of age or health. Juniper’s innovative Connect4Life program has been proven to improve resident care by decreasing hospitalizations, re-hospitalizations, and urgent care visits, while offering potential cost savings to public programs such as Medicare. To learn more about the many ways Juniper Communities innovates in support of the communities’ residents, visit www.junipercommunities.com.