Longtime Ballas Boutique Volunteer’s Request: Come Join Something Great

Missouri Baptist Medical Center’s beloved gift shop needs volunteers

A recent morning at Missouri Baptist Medical Center’s Ballas Boutique quickly changed from calm and quiet into a celebratory commotion.

Volunteers stopped staging shelves and rushed out from behind their posts at the checkout counter. Arms opened wide for embraces. A sharply dressed 93-year-old woman in a wheelchair entered and drew everyone’s attention.

“What’s going on?” a customer asked.

Jan Loiterstein was back.

Decades of dedication

After styling her hair and selecting a sparkling bracelet that accented her outfit, Jan, with the help of her daughters, made her first Ballas Boutique appearance of the year on the same day the hospital hosted an open house in hopes of recruiting new gift shop volunteers.

Witnessing the reception that awaited Jan, who recently had to step away from volunteering at the shop after nearly 35 years of service, made for a compelling recruiting pitch.

“I was here every Wednesday,” Jan said. “I took it as more than volunteering.”

Jan and her friends shared stories, shed a few tears, and laughed plenty as they reminisced. There was a lot of ground to cover. Jan started volunteering in 1990 at the shop that raises funds for Missouri Baptist Healthcare Foundation.

“She was great with customers,” Ballas Boutique manager Laurie Childers said. “She loved to go to patient rooms with flowers and chit-chat with people. Whenever the phone rang, we would look around, like, ‘Who’s going to answer it?’ Jan always did it.”

Jan’s late husband, Sid, volunteered alongside her in the shop for decades after Jan convinced him to relocate his volunteering efforts from another area of the hospital. His career in the food industry made him the perfect person to handle the shop’s candy orders.

“He will be gone 20 years in March,” Jan said. “We had a great time together. I don’t forget those things.”

Jan’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have fond memories of the shop, thanks to her. The number of lives she touched through her volunteering, whether by helping a customer pick out the perfect gift or lifting the spirit of a doctor who was having a hard day, remains immeasurable.

“It gave her a feeling of purpose,” said Debbie Glenn, a daughter of Jan’s. “She was so loyal to this job.”

Jan confirmed something else her family shared—that she also was one of the shop’s most loyal customers.

“I bought a lot of stuff,” Jan said, with a smile.

New volunteers needed

The Ballas Boutique means a lot to many.

It’s a reprieve for patients and their loved ones. It’s where MoBap visitors find ways to offer congratulations and condolences. It’s a reset—and retail therapy—for hard-working hospital employees. It’s a hidden gem for shoppers who drive long distances to peruse unique merchandise and pick up fresh, fragrant flower bouquets. It’s a warm, welcoming place—but only if it’s open when needed.

The Ballas Boutique only closes for major holidays and severe weather, so maintaining the schedule—and level of service—will be challenging unless more volunteers join the team. The number of volunteers has declined as the current core group ages. What used to be around 65 regular and substitute volunteers is now fewer than 20.

If the trend doesn’t change, the shop’s schedule could. Fewer hours would mean fewer chances to raise funds for Missouri Baptist Healthcare Foundation. In short, the Ballas Boutique needs help.

If you have questions about volunteering at the Ballas Boutique, please contact store manager Laurie Childers by email or at 314-996-5144. If you are interested in volunteering at the Ballas Boutique, please start by completing a volunteer application here.

An invitation extended

Jan recently stopped driving. Standing behind the Ballas Boutique’s checkout counter became too physically tasking. Stepping back from her volunteer work in September 2024 was hard.

“I have to be honest, I’m still sad about it,” Jan said as her Ballas Boutique reunion neared its end. “But today, I’m very happy.”

She hopes there’s a new way she can help. Just as she once recruited her husband as a Ballas Boutique volunteer, she’d like to encourage anyone out there who is interested to try.

“It’s a great thing to do,” Jan said. “You will have a smile on your face.”

If you are interested in volunteering at the Ballas Boutique, please start by completing a volunteer application here.