Making a difference in one’s community -- one’s world – can take on many forms. And the results of those good deeds touch many in the here-and-now, while forming a lasting legacy that touches future generations.

That is why The Mexico Ledger honors Hidden Heroes.

Emily Lain grew up in central Illinois before moving to Missouri in 1982. She lived in Columbia, working as a nurse technician at Boone Hospital.

“In the old days, I was called a ‘nurse’s aid’,” remembers Emily. “I was the eyes and ears for my nurses.”

Emily worked at Boone Hospital for 27 years before eventually retiring in 2017.

“When I retired it was like a vacation at first but six weeks into retirement I had thought, ‘what has become of my mission now?” says Emily.

Her husband John had been trying to get Emily to come down to the senior center for many years in an effort to get her out and lift her spirits. It was her sister-in-law who eventually encouraged Emily to take a trip down to the senior center for a visit.

“John dropped me off at the front door; I came in and met Ione (Bickell), and by the time John got in I was already signing papers to become volunteers,” says Emily

John and Emily took on a route delivering for Meals on Wheels and regularly volunteer their time helping those in need.

“Emily and John are a package deal,” says Ione Bickell, administrator at the Mexico Nutrition and Activity Center.

When Gail May, a local Mexico senior and Emily’s Hidden Hero nominator, broke her wrist a couple of years ago, she realized she needed help with daily tasks but couldn’t afford to pay a full-time caretaker. May called up her good friend Bickell and asked if she knew of anyone who could help.

“She said she had the exact person for me and that she could trust her with her life,” says May. “That person was Emily.”

During her time caring for May while she healed, they developed a close friendship.

“She is my best friend,” says May. “She would take care of me and I would try to pay her, but sometimes she wouldn’t take it, or she would work four hours and only charge for two.”

“Emily would leave money for her clients who needed it before she would ever take any for herself,” adds Bickell.

Emily takes on home-care clients like May in her free time, whenever there is any, that is. In addition to volunteering, she serves as vice president on the Mexico Nutrition and Activity Center board and is in charge of coordinating most of the center’s events.

“She has turned into a real leader on that board,” says Bickell. “Emily is a very caring person; she leads with her heart and people follow her.”

As a board member and event leader, Emily has made it her mission to bring all of our local organizations together to benefit more than just seniors.

“Since I have become vice president of the board, my mission is to reach out to all the community services and join hands with them and become partners in serving this community,” says Emily.

Part of her outreach began with local veterans in 2012. Emily is a saxophonist and started a music group called Emily Lain and Friends. Every year they play at Boone Hospital for Veterans Day.

“I love lifting people up,” says Emily. “We do veteran events here honoring the veterans every Veterans Day and throughout the year; a veteran should be honored every day!”

For someone who loves helping as much as Emily, that still wasn’t enough, so in October of this year she joined Altrusa.

“I heard it was an organization that wanted to help and give to the community, and I was looking for more to do and more ways to give to the community,” says Emily.

Do you know someone who volunteers their time to be a hero to others? Submit your nomination to: https://mexicoledger.com/hiddenhero/