Volunteers can be the life force of an organization. HSHS St. John's Hospital's volunteer group, the Samaritans, provide vital services that add to the comfort of patients and their families while offering an opportunity to give back to the community.
Katie Sundby, who until recently served in the Children's Miracle Network at HSHS St. John's Children's Hospital, began her new post as director of volunteer services earlier this year. "After 10 years in my last position, I thought it was time for a change," said Sundby. "There was an opening and I thought about how much I enjoyed the volunteers I worked with in CMN. I thought it would be a great next step and fit for me."
Samaritans can volunteer as little as four hours a week. Sundby said an online application is posted under the community tab on the hospital's website for those who want to get invovled. After passing a background check, volunteers go through an orientation and tuberculosis test.
Volunteer Mary Payne said when she retired, she did not want to just sit around and do nothing. That resulted in volunteering three days a week for a four-hour shift working in the hospital's gift shop.
"I have been working there for 12 years and just love it," Payne said. "I really feel like I am appreciated there and that I make a difference in people's lives. It is wonderful to get up in the morning and feel like I have a purpose. And just putting a smile on my face and greeting my customers and asking them how I can help them can make a difference in their day."
"The thing I find most fulfilling," Payne added, "is when a loved one of a patient in the hospital comes in and you can tell they have received bad news and they just need someone to listen and care. There are many times, if there aren't any other customers in the shop, they will open up and begin to talk about their struggle and feelings. I feel that I have the opportunity to listen and show compassion and that someone cares about what they are going through. We have so many different kinds of customers – from a nurse or tech who are just running in on their break to pick up a quick item for themselves or their patient or a new dad or grandparent that is getting flowers or balloons to celebrate the happy arrival of a new baby into the family. It always makes me feel good to fill that need."
Sundby said one of her most cherished moments is when she asked if a volunteer would sit with a patient and keep them company. She said she had an outpouring of responses to her email request for that role. "That filled my heart so much to see the support from these volunteers that they wanted to come in on their day off to be there for someone else. These volunteers take this so seriously, and I love that they love being a part of St. John's as much as the colleagues do."
Barb Butler said she became a volunteer about 20 years ago as a Eucharistic minister. "I had been a Eucharistic minister at my church, and felt it was a wonderful mission to minister to the patients undergoing significant medical challenges. I was still a nurse at the time and knew the value this was to many patients. This role continues to help me in my own faith journey. I also work in the gift shop where I love and enjoy meeting and talking with the families, our St. John's workers and everyone else who comes to the gift shop.
"I have met many wonderful patients and people over the years, and this is why I continue to volunteer. I also feel I am keeping the spirit of the Hospital Sisters alive by doing what I do. Most enjoyable, or perhaps making an impact, is actually feeling the Holy Spirit helping you when interacting with the patients. I have cried and laughed at times with them as they cry and laugh. It is a blessing that helps me in my journey of life. I think we all have to help each other in this life by using any talent we have been given by God to help others, and that is why I volunteer."
To learn more visit https://www.hshs.org/st-johns.
Janet Seitz is a local communications professional, writer and artist. To share your story, contact her at [email protected].
