Page 5 - ISI_162_JuneJuly

All About Idaho
JUNE / JULY 2020 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 5

Zarybniskys Revved Up for

Charitable Road Trips

BY DIANNA TROYER

Whenever they head out on a road trip,
retirees Jack and Mary Zarybnisky pack
their sense of adventure and fill their vehi-
cle with items to give away.
“We’ve been blessed, so we want to be a
blessing to others and allow God to use us to
express his love on Earth,” said Jack, 72, a
semi-retired optometrist who practiced 42
years in Burley, Idaho. “We’ll go wherever
the Heavenly Father guides us and give
what we can. There’s so much do, and we’ve
never been the type to sit around.”
They have logged countless miles on
their vehicles, traveling from their rural
home near Burley in southeastern Idaho to
professional conferences and to visit friends
and family. Jack attends continuing education
sessions to maintain his optometry license,
so he can write prescriptions. He also serves Before a road trip, Jack and Mary Zarybnisky pack their vehicle with supplies for the needy.
on an Idaho genetic counseling board and a Photo by Dianna Troyer.
state review board for foster care.
Since retiring in 2012, the Zarybniskys Always ready to help, they have a room “I had no idea they were setting me up
have more time for their cherished pas- in their basement with neatly organized on a blind date with Jack,” Mary said.
time—helping others. They donate food, plastic boxes filled with clothes, personal The couple happened to be Jack’s opto-
clothing, hygiene kits, and plastic roll-up hygiene items, and school supplies. metric partner and his wife.
sleeping mats to people they meet, includ- “Chemotherapy patients really like these Jack said he never planned to open a
ing the homeless, orphans, and children crocheted hats,” said Mary, who makes practice in Idaho, but circumstances led
escaping the sex trade. “What we do for many of them. him to Burley. After graduating from Pacific
others energizes us,” Jack said. They sympathize with cancer patients University College of Optometry in Forest
Motivated by their faith and childhood because Jack has been treated for skin and Grove, Ore., he struggled to find work in
experiences, “we try to live our lives helping intestinal cancers and also has Crohn’s disease. his field.
the weak and being patient with everyone,” With their charitable reputation, they “I spent the summer bucking hay bales,
said Mary, referencing a favorite Bible often receive anonymous donations placed milking cows, tending to bees, and applying
verse, 1st Thessalonians 5:14. During her in a picnic cooler they leave on their deck. for optometry jobs,” he said.
39-year education career, she taught chil- “We come home and are surprised at While wondering about his professional
dren, adults, and special education students. what we find,” Jack said. “This community future, he joined other optometrists trav-
The Zarybniskys understand how sud- is unbelievably generous. Whenever we need eling to Pocatello to hear a renowned eye
den uncontrollable circumstances in life help, we make a few phone calls and have as surgeon’s presentation. On the way back
lead to homelessness and hopelessness. many volunteers as we need, especially for home, they stopped in Burley to visit a
“My dad told me his village in a free Thanksgiving feast we’ve organized friend, Dr. Howard Donaldson.
Czechoslovakia was destroyed during World for decades.” “He was going on vacation and asked if
War II,” Jack said. “It forced his family to They rely on friendships they developed I’d work for him for two weeks,” Jack said.
become transient farm workers.” after moving to the Mini-Cassia area four “Those two weeks turned into 42 years.”
His father eventually immigrated to the decades ago as single college grads. After they married, Jack and Mary
United States, where Jack was born. “People were so welcoming,” Mary said. began volunteering locally at shelters,
Mary said her parents were charitable “We didn’t know anyone when we came schools, and senior centers. Expanding
role models. and lived here two years before we met their vision nationally, they have also
“Growing up, I watched them help those each other.” donated to Airman’s Attics on Air Force
in need, so I’ve continued doing that,” she After graduating from Northwest bases, Ronald McDonald Houses near hos-
said. “Homelessness could happen to any Nazarene College, Mary found a job teaching pitals, and orphanages. Volunteering with
of us for all kinds of reasons—losing a job, in Rupert. One evening, parents of a student Special Olympics in Idaho, Jack eventually
a medical emergency …” invited her to supper. served as the organization’s international
medical director.
Mary said the reward of their char-
&
Allen Drug PHARMACY ity work is watching recipients’ facial

VA R I E TY COMPOUNDING PHARMACY expressions.
OFFICE/SCHOOL SUPPLIES
HOUSEWARES “It’s wonderful to help people who are
HOME OF THE FAMOUS
DANIEL’S CROUP OINTMENT TOYS thinking poorly of themselves, because it
Prescription only, until further notice. CRAFTS helps them realize they are valuable,and
& OUR MADE IN HOUSE FABRIC
PAIN RELIEVING HEAT RUB ASSISTIVE DEVICES their lives matter,” she said. ISI
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