Hospital Volunteers Praised

REDLANDS, CA - They rock the babies. They put an extra blanket on if you get cold. They sew a quilt every year and raffle it off to raise money. They greet you at the front door when you arrive and escort you to your car when you leave. They are the 350 volunteers who donated 47,000 hours last year in 35 different service areas at Redlands Community Hospital. That is true dedication.

The volunteers were recognized and thanked at the hospital’s Annual Holiday Brunch held at the University of Redlands on December 7. Volunteers were joined by many of the hospital’s supervisors who rely on the volunteers to help extend the services in their departments.

Tales of the first hospital volunteers in the 1920s were told to the guests. Prior to the official formation of the Volunteer Auxiliary in 1931, volunteers made jams and jellies to serve to patients. Linens were mended and washed by ladies in the community. Today, the Auxiliary is comprised of both men and women, ranging in age from teens to retirees. Each volunteer assists from 3 to 30 hours per week, with a few volunteers racking up thousands of hours over many years. For example, volunteer Carol Houston has donated more than 15,000 hours of service and Audrey Boggess has volunteered for more than 25 years.

"The tasks before our volunteers are met with understanding, commitment, and determination and it is their morale and camaraderie that lighten our hearts and those of our patients," stated Jim Holmes, hospital president. “They are an inspiration to all of us.”

Volunteers this year found themselves dealing with the noise and dust from the construction site of the hospital’s new $47 million Surgery and OB Center. "As the regular family waiting areas were displaced, volunteer Shirley Marley was challenged with developing a way to communicate with family members waiting throughout the hospital," explained Holmes. "Volunteer drivers transported visitors from far corners of the parking lots to the hospital front door via a shuttle cart. Volunteers were seen at Redlands Market Night as they informed the public about the needs of the uninsured and under-insured members of our community. They helped patients vote in the November elections. A group of men go fishing in the lobby fountain once a week, where they retrieved more than $2,300 in coins last year."

The Patient Representative Program was expanded to 27 volunteers this year. This service brings volunteers into patient rooms, where they ask patients about their comfort and other needs.

Darlene Hatch, Bill Keough, and Dr. Barry Lee presented the Annual Mary Kimberly-Shirk Award for excellence in volunteering to Eleanor Forhan. Shirk was the original founder of the Volunteer Auxiliary and served on the hospital board of directors when it was decided to build a new hospital on Terracina Boulevard.

Volunteer President Jim Stellar presented Tim Murone, chairman of the RCH Foundation, with a check for $60,000. These funds were raised in the gift shop and other volunteer fund-raising efforts and will be used to purchase specialized medical equipment each year.

Quilt committee chairs Linda Close-Rogers and Eleanor Forhan presented the hospital with the 2005 Auxiliary Quilt Patch, a smaller version of the featured pattern on this year’s quilt. The framed quilt patch will be added to the display in the hospital lobby.

Receiving special recognition this year were volunteers from the Redlands Sewing Center. A group of adults and youth sewed 200 red and white Christmas stockings for the holiday season. Babies born during the month of December go home from the hospital tucked inside the large stockings.*

The installation of officers was conducted by Ellen Weisser, who along with her husband Stan, donated funds to construct the Weisser Education Pavilion on the hospital campus in 2005.

The following officers will preside over the volunteers in 2006: Jim Stellar, president; Warren Monroe, first V.P.; Darlene Hatch, second V.P.; Nancy Bologna, Treasurer; Avonne Zevenbergen, Recording Secretary; and Jean Mills, Corresponding Secretary. Other appointed officers include: Diane Gray, Award of Excellence Chair; Martha Clark, Fundraising Chair; Avonne Zevenbergen, Gift Shop Chair; Eleanor Forhan, Gift Shop Treasurer; Marilyn Caminiti, Hours Awards Chair; Carol Houston, Lifeline Chair; Dorothy Taub, Parliamentarian; Marcia VanMouwerik, Program Chair; and Bill Keough, Years of Service Awards.

The Redlands High School Chamber Singers, under the direction of Ken Tuttle, provided holiday entertainment at the close of the brunch.

The hospital is always looking for more volunteers to expand their services. If interested, please call Volunteer Services Director Pat Schindler, (909) 335-5526. Founded in 1904, Redlands Community Hospital is located at 350 Terracina Boulevard.

By Jane Dreher, Redlands Community Hospital