North Shore volunteers make valuable contributions to patients
In conjunction with National Volunteer Week , VCH is recognizing a handful of the many dedicated volunteers across the organization.
To say that volunteers are a major part of health services on the North Shore would be an understatement.
The currently roster of 575 volunteers have, in 2012, contributed a total of 2,376 years to VCH acute, residential care, assisted living, palliative care, hospice and community programs.
“Our volunteers are such a dedicated group of people,” said Sarie Peters, manager of Volunteer Resources for VHC on the North Shore. “Our clients, residents, patients and our staff benefit so much from all of they work they do.”
Hilary Chalke is always ready to help show you the way at Lions Gate Hospital
One of these dedicated people is Hilary Chalke, who has been volunteering at Lions Gate Hospital (LGH) for 12 years. But while Hilary has officially been a volunteer for more than a decade, her unofficial start as a North Shore volunteer came much earlier
“Do you know what a candy striper is?” she said. “Well, I was raised on the North Shore and in about 1966 or 1967, I was a candy striper at LGH. We would go up to pediatrics and cuddle babies, feed them – whatever needed to be done. I was in high school at the time.”
Her official time as a volunteer began in flower care, helping arrange and fix-up the flowers on the different floors. But being the strong people person she is, Hilary eventually became a wayfinder, helping hospital visitors “find their way” around the hospital, actually walking with them to their destination.
Ruth Gilewich at the North Shore Hospice helping celebrate volunteers.
“I really like people,” she said. “I think that if you’re living in a community, you should be helping out the community.”
Like Hilary, fellow North Shore volunteer Ruth Gilewich works at LGH because she wants to help.
“A colleague of mine passed away from cancer,” Ruth says. “So I want to be there for those people and their families.”
This year is Ruth’s 21st year volunteering in healthcare on the North Shore. Her volunteer career began with fundraising for the 7 West unit (previously 5 East) at LGH. She currently helps move beds at the chemotherapy centre as well as delivering lunches to the hospice, which makes her pretty popular.
“I guess I’m pretty popular with the lunches,” she says with a laugh. “But the staff also really appreciate it because they don’t have time to do everything.”
As a young girl in Saskatchewan, Ruth says she originally wanted to be a nurse before deciding to become a teacher.
“I’m kind of getting my chance now.”
Make sure you show your appreciation to VCH volunteers this week.