Sharon Regional Medical Center and Whole Life Services, Inc announce today that they have created a unique community collaborate that has opened the doors on a new initiative, Olive’s Place Boutique and Gift Shop.  The new retail location is housed on the first floor of Sharon Regional Medical Center and is being operated by Whole Life Services whose organization provides support and services to people with disabilities and their families.  Whole Life Services operates Studio C Consignment, their store front retail location within their service center and administrative offices building, located at 1565 East State Street in Hermitage.  

The new shop features locally made gift items and other merchandise.  The shop initially opened in October, but held an official ribbon cutting ceremony on January 23, 2019.  

Olive’s Place - Boutique & Gift Shop is named after Olive Thompson, a long-time volunteer at Sharon Regional Medical Center. Olive served more than 50 years at the hospital and the auxiliary and retired at the age of 101. Born in Sharon on June  13,  1915, Olive was a lifetime member  of the  East Side  Church  in Sharon where she had been a member  of various  groups  as well  as a volunteer for many  community organizations including Meals  on Wheels,  Shenango  Valley Interfaith Ministries, and Walking Club.  Olive retired after 27 years as a teacher's aid from the  Mercer  County Crippled Children's Society.  She was honored as a Buhl Day honoree and as a Sharon  Regional  Volunteer of the  Year. Olive was also recognized by PA State Representative Mark  Longietti for being one of only six sets of twins  in the  United States  to reach  more than 100 years of age.  Olive passed away at the age of 103 on August 1, 2018.  Members of Olive’s family including her niece, nephews and other family members were present for the ribbon cutting and dedication of the shop.  

“It is a real honor to recognize and preserve the kindness, compassion and love that Olive shared with so many throughout our great community.  She was an inspiration to so many patients, their family and our tremendous staff.  We are fortunate to have known and worked with Olive for so many years.  I greatly appreciate her dedication and the efforts and commitment of all our volunteers at Sharon Regional Medical Center.” stated Joseph Hugar, president and CEO of Sharon Regional Medical Center. 

The shop, now open Monday through Friday is staffed by Whole Life Services clients who volunteer their time and work under the supervision of a dedicated job coach from Whole Life.   The plan is to provide training for additional volunteers to extend the hours to include evenings and weekends.

About Whole Life Services, Inc.

Whole Life Services, Inc. was founded by Cindy Vogan in 2000 to provide person-centered support services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  The agency, now serving approximately 100 individuals and employing over 115 persons, offers a residential program, in-home support, community participation support, employment support, and job coaching. Vogan and her management team have invented opportunity when bureaucracy and societal biases have blocked individuals from enjoying the same privileges as nondisabled peers.  Businesses have been incubated that capitalize on the skill set of both employees and consumers.  Three of these businesses, Studio C Consignment, It'Sweet, and Custom T's, are involved in Olive's Place Boutique either by providing merchandise or shop operations.