We’re excited to shine a light on one of our incredible Foster Grandparents: Juke Cardo, who has been sharing her warmth and talents in the Guppy Room at our DePere Center for the past two years.
Juke is known for her deep love of music—fitting for someone named “Juke”! She brings her guitar to the classroom and uses music as a tool to connect with the infants. Watching the babies’ eyes light up as she plays and sings is truly heartwarming. Juke’s musical journey began early—she fell in love with music at age 4 and started guitar lessons at 7. She’s classically trained and plays simply because it brings her joy.
Over her time with us, Juke has continued to surprise us with her many talents. She recently offered to lead a presentation on basic car maintenance at one of our Foster Grandparent in-services—an unexpected and valuable topic that sparked great conversation and learning!
Juke is also an avid crafter and sewer. She has generously offered to sew bibs for our centers, a skill she developed at a young age when she began making handmade gifts like stuffed animals and greeting cards for family members. In fact, Juke once dreamed of becoming a greeting card writer—an early sign of her creative and caring spirit.
Juke’s love for babies is lifelong. She began caring for her twin cousins at the age of 12, and her nurturing presence continues to have a calming and joyful effect on the infants in our care.
We’re so grateful for all that Juke brings to Encompass—her music, her creativity, her gift for telling jokes and riddles, her wealth of knowledge, and most of all, her big heart.
