Evelyn's Story

Rewards of volunteering flow in both directions

Knowing that you’re making a difference in your community and feeling useful are two of the most rewarding aspects of any volunteer position. But the benefits of volunteering extend far beyond that, both for those receiving the direct benefit of the volunteer work and for the volunteers themselves.

At Saint Francis Hospital, volunteers are a vital resource for patients, their families, visitors and employees, making a difference in the care provided. In turn, volunteers benefit from the connections they make to others and the boost to self-esteem that comes from playing a valuable role in the lives of others.

“I think I get as much out of it as I give,” says retiree Evelyn Davis, who has volunteered at Saint Francis Hospital for a year and a half. “It’s rewarding to be able to help people. I like interacting with people, and we have a really good group of people here in the volunteer department at Saint Francis. I enjoy working with them. We all look forward to coming here every week.”

Volunteering can help relieve stress and foster new perspectives. You can put skills you’ve developed over a lifetime to good use or acquire new skills that can open up new opportunities and experiences.

Finding a volunteer position based on personal interests and connections often leads to a rewarding experience. It did for Evelyn. “My sister spent a lot of time at Saint Francis before she passed away six years ago. She had several hospital stays, and everyone here was so nice to her every time we came in. During all that time in the hospital, I got a chance to interact with a lot of the staff at Saint Francis, so I knew they were warm, caring people. Saint Francis is a wonderful hospital that offers great service to the community. So a year and a half ago, when I was looking for something to do, I decided to give back.”

Evelyn volunteers two days a week, primarily with Senior Class activities. Senior Class is a membership program for people age 50+ that offers free educational seminars, free health screenings, pharmacy discounts, outings and other perks for its members.

Join Us!

Would you like to feel the pride, satisfaction and sense of accomplishment that come with a volunteer position? Contact Linda Knight, Manager of Volunteer Services at Saint Francis Hospital, to learn more or complete an application. You can reach Linda by email at [email protected] or by calling (901) 765-1808.