Facility volunteer leaders, local leaders, and Infection Prevention will work together during the next few months to identify the in-person volunteer roles that can be safely performed. Then volunteers in the identified roles will be contacted and invited back to our facilities. The volunteer program has been suspended since March 9, 2020 as a precaution during the pandemic.
Mike Rawlings, director of Volunteer Services, says, “The absence of the volunteers has been felt by our caregivers and patients throughout the last year and has shown the important role they play in promoting a healing environment. We’re excited to welcome them back.”
Current volunteers, other than greeter and information desk volunteers, will be the first to be invited back. Hopefully by summer, greeter and information desk volunteers will be invited back and we’ll start recruiting new volunteers.
“I’m very excited to come back. I can’t wait,” says Tami Harlow, a volunteer at McKay-Dee Hospital. “I’m looking forward to being around our patients and visitors again. One of the places where I volunteer is at the information desk in the main lobby where we like to stand and greet people. I’ve met a lot of amazing people this way. I’ve also developed friendships with other volunteers who I look forward to seeing again when we return.”
Because of the large number of volunteers that may want to return right away, local volunteer leaders may choose to slowly phase them back in over the next few months. Local volunteer leaders, in partnership with Infection Prevention and administration, may also choose to delay the return of some roles if they can’t be performed safely at this time.
Please contact your local volunteer leader if you have questions.