Ready to Save a Life? - Marion General Hospital

Volunteer ServicesThe Exciting Year AheadA message from MGH manager ofVolunteer Services Sheila StewartWhat is easy to do, doesn’tcost anything, makes youlots of friends, relievesstress and makes you feelbetter? Well, surprising asit may be, it’s volunteering!A study was completedby the University ofSheila Stewart Michigan Survey ResearchCenter on 2,700 peoplecovering 10 years and measuring the impactof social relationships on health. They foundthat regular volunteer work, more than anyother social activity, dramatically increasedlife expectancy.This was especially significant for men. Menwho did no volunteer work were 2½ times morelikely to die during the 10-year span than thosewho volunteered at least once a week.More and more studies reveal that doing goodis good for your health. All of us experiencestress, and our thoughts and feelings have a positiveor negative influence on our health. Peoplewho focus on others rather than themselves feeluseful, productive and good about themselvesand find they are too busy to dwell on their ownaches and pains or to feel depressed.People who help others are among the happiestand healthiest people in the world, so you’rereally doing yourself a favor by volunteering.MGH has more than 200 adult volunteerswho provide support to staff and help to offera wide variety of services to our patients. Allkinds of positions—suitable to all interests andskills—are available seven days a week, makingvolunteering at MGH convenient for yourpersonal schedule.Spring is a time of new beginnings. It is aperfect time to begin a personal commitmentto a healthier lifestyle by becoming one of MGH’scompassionate and dedicated volunteers.Volunteering is a fun and rewardingexperience—and an opportunity for you tomake a difference in the quality of life in ourcommunity.Get Involved callCall MGH Volunteer Services at765-662-4753 for more information.Volunteers of the MonthDecember Volunteer of the Month: JaniceSneed—Before volunteering at MGH, Janice Sneedfaithfully served students for 40 years as a welllikedand well-respected art teacher at EastbrookCommunity Schools. The Fairmount resident nowvolunteers at the MGH gift shop. “I enjoy meetingJanice Sneedpeople, seeing former students and interactingwith volunteers and staff,” Sneed says. “Volunteering at MGH is achance to be a part of a group that works together to help others.”When not volunteering, Sneed enjoys spending time with her fivegrandchildren, dogs, cats and—last, but certainly not least—Randy,her husband of 46 years.January Volunteer of the Month: Sue White—“Every day I come in to volunteer, I have the opportunityto make a difference in someone’s life,” saysSue White, providing reflection on why she volunteersat MGH. White worked as a school bus driverfor Marion Community Schools before retiring.Sue White“I heard MGH was a great place to volunteer,” shesays. For almost two years, she has volunteered as a mail clerk/courier.Besides helping and serving others, the position has an additionalbenefit: White gets plenty of healthy exercise when she delivers mailand packages.February Volunteer of the Month: YvonneRish—Yvonne Rish volunteers at the informationdesk at MGH. Prior to that, the “most fun” jobshe had was at a dinner theater in Florida. It gaveher the opportunity to meet Mickey Rooney, AlMartino and Frank Gorshin. Although she doesn’tYvonne Rishmeet stars at MGH, Rish enjoys volunteering.“MGH is a very worthwhile place to contribute your time,” she says.The Indiana native calls Florida her home, since she and her husbandof 50 years, Dee, lived there the past 30 years. At home, she enjoysgardening, cooking and reading her Bible.54vim & vigor · spring 2010