Ruth Sievers became a USE member when she and her husband Steve Hanft moved to Reston seven years ago. “Some volunteers had a table at the Farmer’s Market at Lake Anne and I signed up just because it sounded like a good thing. I thought I’d be supporting a good cause. I never actually thought I would use it.”

But within weeks Ruth needed to move a heavy sofa from one room to another and decided to see if she could get help from USE. Tim Finefrock came right over on his lunch hour and the job was done in minutes. After that Ruth attended a USE neighborhood potluck dinner at the Lovaas’ home. “We shared what we could do and what we needed,” she says. “I couldn’t believe it when Lucinda Shannon said she could help me stretch canvases since she’d done it in college. I was amazed.”

Since then Ruth has had many opportunities to help others as they have helped her. She has driven other members to the airport and metro station (and has received rides herself). She has taken care of several members’ cats while they are out of town and helped another member learn to use her new smart phone. She has babysat and driven people to the auto repair shop. She and her husband have both volunteered at the USE table at the Reston Farmer’s Market to help recruit new members, and she made a display to help attract people to the table. For the past several years she has contributed small floral centerpieces, which she loves designing, for picnics and potluck suppers, and has helped in the kitchen to set up and clean up. An avid photographer, Ruth has also contributed photos for the USE newsletter. 

A former employee of the Library of Congress, Ruth has been retired for many years but stays active walking the paths of Reston, traveling, taking photos wherever she goes, and oil painting. She has won awards from regional art leagues and most recently placed third in Herndon ArtSpace’s 10th Annual Portrait Competition for her self-portrait.

Article content from Ruth Sievers