The Volunteers are Coming!

Ahhhh spring: a time for new beginnings. Winter coats are stored away. Shoveling 50 inches of snow is a bad memory. Grocery store stampedes are over for now.

Here at LifeBridge Health, spring means eager bright young volunteers will be showing up. The Teen Volunteer Program is now accepting applications.

“For most of them, it will be the first time working in a hospital setting and they learn it is not like what they see on television,” says Gloria Duvall an administrative coordinator in Guest Relations and Volunteer Services at Sinai Hospital.

“Teens who are considering a career in health care, either as a doctor or nurse are interested,” says Gloria. “And they learn there are many different jobs in a hospital.”

At Sinai, teens must be at least 15 years old and in high school or college. At Northwest Hospital teens can be 15, but must have completed the ninth grade. Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital accepts teens between the ages of 14 to 18.

All the young volunteers must have certain things in common. “They must be mature and self-motivated,” says Janine Boulad, volunteer coordinator at Levindale.

The volunteers will be given consideration for what their interests are and most will experience working in more than one department. “We do ask them if they want a clinical or clerical setting and will try to honor that,” says Jennifer Terrell, director in the Volunteer and Business Outreach Department at Northwest.

According to all involved, young people who have volunteered in the past have gotten a lot out of the experience. “This is a real growing experience for them,” says Janine. They also learn skills, like being on time, being observant and being self-motivated they can transfer to any job.

“Some confirm that this is what they want to do, “ Gloria says. “Others learn that being in a hospital is not for them.”

For more information on volunteering, click here.