The Gift of Time

"It’s easy to make a buck. It’s a lot tougher to make a difference."
- News Anchor Tom Brokaw

By Sally Owen

They're in the Hospital's Main Lobby, welcoming patients and visitors and providing directions. They're in the Gift Shop, helping a dad select just the right gift for his new shortstop. They're in various Hospital offices, helping staff members tackle a myriad of tasks. They're at the Auxiliary Craft House, making puppets to cheer young patients on the Pediatrics Unit. They're even feeding the fish that call the aquatic tank home in the Regional Cancer Center.

In short, they're everywhere, and Southeast Missouri Hospital couldn't be happier. Since 1937, when a small group of women volunteered to sew window curtains for patient rooms and can vegetables for use in the Hospital kitchen, volunteers have been making a difference at Southeast.

Endless Opportunities

Working with Southeast's 400-plus volunteers is a joy, says Director of Volunteer Services Marge Sullivan.

Sandy Shandy takes a baby photo.

Southeast Missouri Hospital volunteer Sandy Shandy makes sure a new arrival is at his baby best before taking a photograph.

"They're so vital, possess such beautiful souls and brighten both our patients' and our staff members' days with their smiles, compassion and caring attitudes."

Their dedication is "unparalleled," Sullivan says, adding that last year men and women who volunteer at Southeast contributed nearly 40,000 hours of time and talent.

The Hospital's Volunteer Services works to pair each volunteer's interests, talents and time availability with appropriate service opportunities throughout the Hospital.

The Perfect Picture

When Sandy Shandy joined the Auxiliary in April of 2002, she pictured herself as a baby photographer with one of the Auxiliary's newest projects, "Growing Family," (an infant photo service). Southeast is just one of two hospitals in the nation to train and utilize its volunteer force to take photos of infants.

As a school secretary for 26 years, Shandy was familiar with working in a school setting. "I met wonderful people there, but [after retirement] I was ready for a different set of wonderful people," she says. "I thought there would be something useful for me to do at Southeast."

And useful it is. Shandy devotes an average of five hours a week to the photo project, and oftentimes more. "I get to visit with the families, which is fun, and work with the babies to make sure we get the best pose possible." That can be a challenge, she admits, with little ones who prefer to sleep than pose. Would she ever consider a career as a commercial baby photographer? "Probably not," she laughs. "Being a photographer at Southeast is fine with me."

Kenneth Wagner volunteers regularly at Southeast.

Although officially "retired," Kenneth Wagner reports for work at Southeast Missouri Hospital Monday through Friday – and wouldn’t have it any other way.

8,500 Hours and Counting

Kenneth Wagner is not one who welcomes Monday morning with a limited degree of enthusiasm. He loves Mondays – Tuesdays through Fridays, too – because that’s when he’s on the job at Southeast as the Blue Cross/Medicaid Billing Office’s "MVV" – Most Valuable Volunteer.

A Southeast volunteer since 1991 (his wife Dorothy is also a dedicated volunteer), Wagner has chalked up more than 8,500 hours of service, first in the hospital Laundry, then filling hospital soda machines, working in the Marketing Department helping inventory and pack literature and promotional items and now in the billing office.

"Volunteering means a lot to me," Wagner says. "I’d recommend it and Southeast to anyone."

More people are getting the message about volunteering, Sullivan says. In the first nine months of 2002, the Auxiliary welcomed 60 new members. "We have volunteers of all ages, and more men are participating than ever before," she adds. "Another hallmark of our volunteer cadre is the warmth with which they welcome newcomers. Our door is always open, and the welcome mat is always out."

To learn more about the dozens of opportunities for volunteering at Southeast and the benefits of volunteering, call the Volunteer Services Office at 573-651-5518.

Click here for a printable volunteer application (PDF)