Being a volunteer takes a very selfless and giving person. The holiday season is a great time to remind us all that volunteers make a big difference year round at McLaren Bay Region.
Ann Moseley is one such volunteer who has assisted at McLaren Bay Region for the past year. When she finished her medical career as a phlebotomist, she thought she was done, but another volunteer, Helen Cummings, convinced her to give volunteering at the hospital a try.
“I work the front desk as a volunteer at McLaren Bay Region every Thursday and Friday,” said Ann. “Before, I worked in the medical field as a phlebotomist, drawing blood here. I worked all over going to different hospitals that needed help in the area.”
As a volunteer, Ann can tell when there’s someone who doesn’t really know their way around and she enjoys helping them find where they need to be.
“Patients will come up to me and say they’re looking to get to a certain procedure. Instead of just telling them where they need to go, I like to show them where they need to go. I prefer to walk with them if I can, especially if they have to register at South Tower, which happens a lot. I feel almost like an old pro now helping people get around the hospital.”
Ann believes her love of “chit chat” and her experience working in hospitals has made her a perfect fit as a volunteer.
“I love to talk, which is perfect for this. I love the outdoors, so I like giving people the weather forecast when they come in. I get here at 7:30 a.m., so I can see everybody coming into work in the mornings and I like to also give them a little laugh to start their day. I’ve been an employee at the hospital, so I get it. I understand that their jobs can be challenging, and I love to try and make everyone’s day a little brighter.”
Ann says there will always be people who are in need at the hospital.
“It’s just wonderful being here to help them. I’ve been on both sides of the fence, and I know what it’s like to be lost. Visitors and patients are so grateful when they find someone who can show them the way.”
To Ann, the experience of helping someone gives her great happiness as well.
“I think there’s no better feeling than to help someone. It makes me so happy. It helps us all in the long run. Being a volunteer gives me something to do, and I interact with so many great people. Getting to know them has been especially cool.”
McLaren Bay Region volunteers make a difference in so many ways. Some of the possible ways to help as a volunteer include: greeting patients and visitors at the door, assisting patients to their rooms, conducting office work such as sorting, filing and collating; delivering mail to patients being hospitalized, assisting customers in the gift shop, escorting patients to the door upon discharge, offering patients a complimentary book or personal care item from the Comfort Cart, and helping out at the Helen M Nickless Volunteer Clinic, a Wednesday evening free clinic available to the uninsured.
To learn more about becoming a volunteer at McLaren Bay Region, click here.