Linda Thompson is the founder and president of Helping Hands at Home and Services for Special People which provides home care and personal services for the elderly and others with special needs in the metropolitan Washington D.C./Maryland suburban area. A highly respected leader in the field of elder care, she is often called upon to consult with staff and providers of other agencies particularly in the area of client advocacy. She also works directly with individuals and families in making decisions about elder care. Thompson has served as the North Bethesda United Methodist church’s minster of visitation, providing parish visitation and helping to address the special needs within the congregation and the mission focus of the church’s community. Her professional career has also included being a home economics teacher in Gibralter Public Schools and the Monroe County Extension 4-H Youth Agent. Thompson served for two years as the community center volunteer in Ibadan, Nigeria, working at the training center for village women provided through Peace Corps in Nigeria. She was a very active PTA volunteer throughout her children’s school careers. She continues as the volunteer leader of her church’s senior adult ministry programs, ensuring that seniors are provided with crisis care during major storms, power outages, and other significant challenges to quality of life. Thompson, with her husband Mel, are donors to the Michigan 4-H Foundation, including being the founding donors of the Michigan 4-H International Programs Endowment Fund, and over the years providing support to 4-H Poland initiatives, the Kettunen Center Vision 2021 campaign and general annual support to 4-H.