BY: Haley Jones
On January 1 Sharon Cramer officially stepped into her new role as the Memorial Health System Volunteer Corps Board President following the two-year term that was held by Wendy Klosterman, now Past President. In addition, other positions filled on the board this year are Brenda Brown, President-Elect, and Pat Cox, Treasurer.
Sharon has served on the Volunteers Corps since 2017. Along with being the Board President, she also leads the Card Committee and is filling in as the Craft Committee leader as well temporarily. “She is a very organized lady and always helps where she is needed. I do not doubt that she will do a great job as the Board President,” exclaimed Jenny Stuck, Volunteer Manager at Memorial Health System (MHS).
The Memorial Health System Volunteer Corps has been offering its services to MHS for 30 years. Their continuous achievement in receiving the Gold Award of Excellence from the Kansas Hospital Association (KHA) and Hospital Auxiliaries of Kansas (HAK) for 29 years running is proof of the amazing work that they do. To receive this particular award, the Volunteer Corps must complete nine requirements. A few of those requirements include: submitting at least one item to the KHA Volunteer Sunflower newsletter that shows the work completed by the corps over the previous year, submitting pictures with an article of what the corps has done to promote auxiliary continuity and fellowship, completing various service projects, holding fundraisers to help support corps initiatives, and providing scholarships.
Over the years, volunteers have contributed their services to Memorial Health System in so many different ways. Currently, the volunteers can be found doing these things:
- Gifting Time – At the beginning of every year, MHS departments are allowed the opportunity to submit a gift proposal, for up to $1,000.00, that would enhance the department or the services they provide to patients. Employees of MHS may present their gift proposal to the Volunteer Board for approval.
- Card and Craft Committees – These subcommittees are for those creative individuals looking for a fun way to feed their artsy souls and hang out with friends while doing so. The Card Committee meets on the second Thursday of every month; they recycle old cards to create new ones that are for sale at a low price in the gift shop. The Craft Committee meets on the 4th Wednesday of every month. They are always busy, sewing, cutting, and creating things like blankets, peanut pillows, and wheelchair bags. A new project they will take on is the Hope Lives pillows for patients who are recovering from a mastectomy.
- Helping Patients and Residents – Volunteers have been instrumental over the years in helping where they can in patient care areas; taking snack orders from the gift shop or filling in where they can at Village Manor, sometimes that can be a simple task like providing companionship. The Information Desk, located in the hospital lobby, helps direct patients and visitors and may also assist with wheelchair transportation.
- Caring Hearts Gift Shop – Also located in the hospital lobby is the gift shop; opened Monday through Friday and staffed by volunteers. This little place of convenience offers seasonal and handcrafted gift items, as well as a wide variety of yummy snacks and drinks. Volunteers may work to stock shelves and run the cash register.
- Helping Employees – Volunteers can help with tasks like shredding, filing, and even folding. The Marketing Department can always use an extra set of hands folding brochures and monthly newsletters. Impact Sports and Fitness appreciates having someone at the front desk at all times to greet customers making it the perfect place to have a volunteer help out!
- Working with Youth – As young minds begin to think about their futures, we want to remind them that a career in healthcare holds several options and can be very rewarding. MHS volunteers help coordinate school-to-career visits with local students, and support scholarship opportunities as well.
Jenny Stuck, MHS Volunteer Manager, is excited to talk with anyone who may be interested in volunteering at Memorial Health System. “We are always recruiting, and we can definitely use the help. We currently have an open position on our board for a secretary as well. There are many opportunities for growth with our volunteer corps; the more volunteers we have, the more we can do in the future.”
If you want to join the MHS Volunteer Corps, or just want more information, please call Jenny at 785-263-6692.