HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Many who visit Hutchinson Regional medical Center see them and are in contact with them, but may not know just how much work they put in. It’s the hospital’s Volunteer Auxiliary. The program has 92 volunteers who work in various areas every day. The hours they put in are impressive.

The volunteers have donated 11,500 hours, equivalent to 479 days of time, assisting with the day-to-day operation of five areas of the hospital during Fiscal 2019, which ended on June 30. Bev Nash, the Volunteer Coordinator for the auxiliary, said the volunteers add a caring touch for the families of hospital patients.

One of them is Lois Veatch who put in more than 720 hours of volunteer work last year. Veatch became a part of the auxiliary after the loss of her husband. “My husband passed away 16 years ago and I was lost for a little while,” Veatch said. “I had a neighbor who had worked for the hospital and she and some of the former employees…invited me and through that, I met a lady who was a volunteer and she encouraged me to come and start volunteering”. Veatch who usually spends time in the surgery waiting room says doing the work helps others and helps herself as well. “It’s more valuable to me than probably to them. I just feel good doing a service for other people,” she added. Veatch who turns 82 soon, says as long as the good Lord lets her she’ll keep volunteering.

Another volunteer who has put in a lot of time at the hospital is Judy Hill who heads up the gift shop at the hospital. After 18 years Hill will step away from the volunteer auxiliary. “I really have loved all of it,” Hill said adding that the gift shop also provides a way to show the good side of the community. “Families that come in here are usually from out of state, out of town and come directly (to the hospital) under circumstances that are not good,’ Hill said. “They may come here, eat at one restaurant, fill their car up with gas and go to the airport. So all they see of Hutchinson is the hospital. So we try to make the gift shop a friendly place.” Hill will end her volunteer service at the end of the month and is being replaced by Carla Long. Since the gift shop opened in 1984 $1,261,000 has been generated for the hospital.

The auxiliary work has also started new friendships some of which continue today. “As an example,
approximately two years ago I received a call from a lady in California,” Nash said. “This lady was looking for the very kind person who was volunteering the day her mother-in-law passed away at Hutch Regional. She was so appreciative of her kindness and wanted to personally thank her and send her a gift. I was able to track down the volunteer that was working that day. With the volunteer’s permission, I provided her phone number which resulted in a phone call of appreciation and donation of several puzzles that families can use while waiting. Most importantly, the lady from California and volunteer formed a friendship which remains to this day.”

Ken Johnson, President and CEO of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System (HRHS) said the hospital could not function as efficiently as it does without the assistance of volunteers. “This group of hard-working individuals are on the front lines every day working hand in hand with the Hutch Regional staff in several areas of the hospital including Same-Day Surgery, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Waiting Room, Information Desk, and Gift Shop,” Johnson said. “The Hutch Regional volunteers are ambassadors for the healthcare system and provide extraordinary service to our patients and their families.”

Veatch was designated as the top volunteer for the year for donating 782 hours in the Same Day Surgery Center followed by Kay Dundas who donated 517 hours in the ICU and served as the accountant for the hospital’s gift shop. Evelyn Henricks spent 513 hours working the gift shop and Joyce Schriner spent 446 hours in Same-Day Surgery. Charlene Tucker rounded out the top five list of volunteers with 356 hours working at the Information Desk.

Johnson also lauded the five individuals who supervised the volunteers in each of the areas including Cynthia Stites, Same Day Surgery Unit; Karen Sims, ICU Waiting Room; Pam Fredrick, Information Desk; Pat Siemens, Mail and Delivery and Hill, in the Gift Shop

Other volunteers who donated more than 200 hours were: Don Adams, Duane Anstine, Joan Arnold, Barbara Brothers, Pam Fredrick, Elma Hunsinger, Ruth Jones, Donna Schroeder, Karen Sims, Cynthia Stites, Ann Thiessen, Dianne Wilt, and Barbara Yoder.

There are also a group of volunteers who retired from service this year. Retirees include Carol Allton, Loran Arnold, Gerry Gough, Nancy Habiger, Kim Hoyt, Samantha Jenkins, Donna Kelley, Irene Martindell, Evelyn McIver, Shalee Mog, Dayna Nichols, Lorana Stay, Bryana Kelley, and Jan Wisby.

New volunteers include Susan Allam, Karen DeCou, Peggy Hodson, Sheri Kendall, Jeanette Madden, Cheryl Marciano, Linda McVey, Cindy Mounce, Terrie Perkins, Merlin Preheim, Debbie Spence, Lauren Wood and May Van Horn.

Two long-time volunteers died during the past year, including Glenda Janner who worked in the Gift Shop and Jean Boesch who donated her time in Same-Day Surgery. The HRHS family thanks them for their service.

Those wishing to volunteer as part of the Hutchinson Regional Medical Center Auxiliary are urged to contact the Gift Shop at 620-665-2079.