— Michelle L. Wiegand

Humanity, activity and duty are the huge words that stimulated my feeling and encouraged me to affiliate with the work which contains that huge title, in the Volunteer office. I really believe that my choice is in the right place, and to share in helping patients in the UI Hospitals and Clinics is honorable work. I estimate the energetic works in the Volunteer office is a dignity. My thoughts indicate that the Volunteer office is an unknown soldier.

      — Zouheir Jundi

Volunteering is important to me because of the things I can do for others in the office as well as some of the projects I have worked on--Children’s Miracle Network, altering clothes for halo patients, bereavement baby outfits, monkeys, the surgery doll, delivering Norfolk pines at Christmas, flowers and visiting with patients. I enjoy meeting new volunteers, presenting orientations and knowing many wonderful volunteers who have become good friends. I’m hoping that I contribute and help others in their need at UI Hospitals and Clinics. I miss when I am unable to volunteer and wish I could do more. It is like we are a big family helping others. Volunteering is good for the heart while it is good helping others.

      — Donna Tjaden

I was anxious to join the volunteer program from its beginning days in 1972. It seemed like a good way to help the community.

I was a general volunteer until I was transferred to the Patient Representative area and remained there until about 1976, when I became a staff member of the Patient Rep program. We moved to Chicago in 1981. Shortly after our return, I began volunteering in the Helen Rossi Volunteer Guest House.

The feeling of looking back on my volunteer days and feeling that somewhere along the line, I had helped someone.

Only last week, I was alone in the office when a young man arrived and asked if I could put through a call to a certain room. He had come up from Georgia that day and didn’t want to shock his father (an inpatient) by appearing too suddenly. I had transferred a number of outside calls to guest house rooms, but I couldn’t think at first how to do it from the inside. I finally called one of our two office phone lines, transferred it to the other phone, and waited. It worked. The father answered, and the son could talk to him: "You know who this is? …. This is your youngest……..Yes, I’m right in the office here…..Okay if I come on down?"

      — Susan Boyd

I volunteer because it is a way of helping others. It’s my calling as a Christian to love and to serve.

I crochet hats and bookmarks. When living in Iowa City I visited patients from the Chaplains office.

Knowing I’m doing something for others is what I like best about volunteering.

My most rewarding experiences include: touring the nursery where the baby hats are used and visiting patients who were hospitalized for weeks, far from home and family. Some with no family to visit them. To be a listener and share in their concerns. Having prayer with them if appropriate. Seeing a smile on their face if you’ve made a second and third visit with them.

      — Dixie Jurgens

I have loved my association with UI Hospital and Clinics Volunteers- especially the Gift Shop. Working in the Gift Shop always lets you know how lucky you were, after listening to patients stories--and maybe we were a brief bright spot in their day. Because of illness, I have missed a year of volunteering--But the support of my fellow volunteers and leaders has been heart warming. Thank you all.

      — Kay Bernau

Volunteering at UI Hospitals and Clinics gets me back in the hospital where I worked for many years. I love seeing people I used to see in those days and I like the hospital atmosphere. I have done the Art Cart and am now in the Oto Clinic I help the nurses by doing things they don’t have time to do. In the Patients’ Library, I am learning so many things that are done in libraries all over the country. I think I should have been a librarian.

Norma Adams assigned me to gift services as a buyer and coordinator of the gift cart (hospitality). In early years, this service was a welcome diversion to patients who were hospitalized for long periods of time, I no longer have contact with patients, but do cherish those contacts, and the friendships with volunteers and staff.

      — Mary Winnie

I volunteer to have something worthwhile to do in my retirement. I’ve worked in the Patients’ Library and Surgical Intensive Care Waiting Room. Like best-being able to help non-local people around this huge hospital. To be able to tell them of special services available--in library, patient rep. Program, computer use, laundry facilities etc.

There have been many rewarding experiences. On Fridays, when I work in the Surgical Intensive Care Waiting Room, I usually bring some clowns from my extensive clown collection for the volunteer desk. These clowns hopefully give the people under stress a little chance to laugh or think of something else than the critical illness of their family member.

      — Doris Hughes

I like working out of the volunteer office and doing different jobs. Also, it’s fun and a great program. I like contributing my time. Thank you,

      — Ann Mettille

I volunteer in the Pastoral Chaplain Visitation to Patients. This is under Harold Scheer. Most of my time 3 RCW-2RCE. To meet many patients who may be lonely. A rewarding experience was to visit the man from Texas who was in southwest Iowa working in a carnival. He was here for four weeks and no visitors. He was most appreciative.

      — Mark Swartzendruber

I volunteer because it is satisfying to me to know that I am making a contribution to the community. I have only volunteered in the Gift Shop. I am rewarded by new friendships among volunteers and by being in a situation where I can assist patients and visitors — sometimes just by showing interest and providing a listening ear.

      — Doris Levsen

I volunteer for several reasons … to meet other retirees, exercise, to help with various projects that staff budgets may not cover. I’ve worked mostly out of the volunteer office as a runner, or helping on the big hospitality cart meeting the public. I enjoy the flower delivery and bringing cheer to patients that really appreciate the beauty. I think Volunteer Services and those involved are just great!

      — Peg Colony

I volunteer because I like be around people and meet new faces. The volunteer cart is really fun to do. We meet all kinds of different people. The most rewarding experience as a volunteer is that you are doing something for others without being paid.

      — Don Tjaden

After having worked at UI Hospitals and Clinics for 30 years and had to retire I needed to be out and about. Seeing an article about needing volunteers in the patient library. I thought that would suit me very well. I like to read. I really enjoy being there. One of the things I miss about not working at UI Hospitals and Clinics is patients. In the library I see them and their families but I also love to read so I take lots of books home to read. I think it’s a great opportunity for me, for the patients, and their families and friends to have the great library we have at the hospital. I remember when it was a very small library and it has grown very well.

      — Sarah Eaton

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time as a volunteer! I’ve met wonderful people (in the program) and appreciative people on the cart route! It’s been a wonderful experience for me meeting all the wonderful people.

      — Jean Thomas

I volunteer to be helpful. I enjoy the Patients’ Library. I like the people I’ve met and I exercise.

      — Shirley Kelly

Fifteen months ago, I went to US in my third time to visit my wife without any thought of staying here for a long time. However, I promised my wife that I did not leave too soon like my second time---nine days. Having had two months here, I wanted to find whatever something for consuming those boring time. Then, one our couple’s friend suggested that I could find a volunteer job at UI Hospitals and Clinics, meanwhile, practiced my English. When our friend accompanied me to volunteer office for registration, I have worried so much about whether I could be accepted because of my absolutely poor English. The same worry and hesitation I read on the people’s face to whom we first talked. During that time, Mrs. Jean R.Reed went in us, and then she gave me the chance. I was arranged in volunteer office finally.

The most impressive thing for me is our volunteer team in my working at UI Hospitals and Clinics. All people, both office staff and my colleagues, devote themselves in work with their gentle and warm heart, good patience, upward and optimistic spirit, and effective and arduous work. Smile is, as if, a permanent emotion on every face of the team. I worked very happy here, was inspirited here, and am proud of that I am one of the great team. Since I made decision of studying here last autumn, I temporarily left the great team, and miss it so much. Once getting any possibility, I would like to get back due to the great team and nice memory of working here. As a foreigner with his absolute garbage English and a little simple head, I got ardent help, well understanding, good patience, nice relationship, and enough attention in working in UI hospital volunteer team. Happy is only thing full of my memory as a volunteer here, and is my most rewarding experience I think.

      — L.J. Meng

I volunteer because I'm retired. It is a good thing to do.

The only area I have done volunteer work for is the Iowa Marrow Donor Program, C332-GH.

I like most aspects of the work I have done.

The most rewarding experience for me it is the actual personal recruitment of at least two actual bone marrow donors who have saved the lives of their respective recipients.

      — John Desherow

I volunteer because I like to feel that a patient may be helped in some way by what I do-listening, getting library material or a newspaper, putting the patient in touch with a Chaplain, or doing other small things that the patient may request. Patient visitation has been my primary activity. What I like best about my work is being in contact with the patients. It is also nice to see and meet other volunteers, and staff. Most rewarding experience: After asking a frail, very elderly patient if I could do anything for her, she said she would love to have her purse out of the closet. She fumbled in it and finally pulled out a tissue wrapped bundle. After getting the small mirror and eyebrow pencil from it, she proceeded to apply the eyebrow pencil with a very shaky hand. She declined my offer of help as she put one eyebrow line quite high and the other quite low. She wrapped up her package and handed me the purse while saying "Thank you so much, I feel so much better now". Little things do make a difference. I sometimes feel that a patient may be reluctant to ask the busy staff for help with the "little " things and are more comfortable asking an unpaid volunteer. Little do they know how great our satisfaction is and how much that is worth.

      — Janice Wilson

Long ago, a very wise person told me that we can't always pay back a kindness to the person we received from, but we can keep the spirit of the kindness by "paying forward" to another, expecting nothing in return. It was in the memory of that wisdom that I sought a place to volunteer at UI Hospitals and Clinics. Since my initial training, I have spent all my time in Pediatrics. A mother of three adults, grandmother of five, and formerly a teacher, I still had empty arms that needed to hold and rock and give unconditional love. I have known two adults who recoil from human touch. Both were adopted out of orphanages many years ago when children's basic needs were met, but there was no time for tender care and cuddling. This gave me some understanding of the need for babies to receive lots of human touch and tender love. Time spent in pediatrics can be like a "mini vacation," lowering my blood pressure and allowing me to escape the pressures of schedules and deadlines for a couple of hours. My greatest reward comes whenever I can coax a response or even a small smile from a child who has "tuned out" a painful world.

      — Jan Mather, Cuddler - 2 & 3 JCW

I worked as a volunteer in the Gift Shop, in the Cancer Clinic outpatient on 4JP, and in Pastoral Care.

Helping other people was very rewarding to me. Many of them just needed someone to talk with who would listen to their needs and who could relate to the problems they were facing. After one of the patients, who had been a music instructor, passed away, his wife sent me a CD that he had made. He had a wonderful voice and I was very touched by her remembrance for me. She said that I had helped them so much and wanted me to know that the time I spent with them was really appreciated. I thank you for letting me be a volunteer.

      — Virginia Means