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Our volunteers provide an array of important services, from designing new technology to inspiring the next generation of health-care workers. Whatever their role, all of our volunteers are working to enhance the quality of care for patients and their families. In honour of this year’s National Volunteer Week, we’re spotlighting some of our volunteers who have given us the invaluable gift of their time and dedication.
If you’ve visited any hospital in the past two years, you may understand the stresses of keeping up with COVID-19 protocols. Throughout the pandemic, Anne-Marie Hartford has provided clarity to patients and their families.
Before the pandemic, Anne-Marie, a fifth-year biomedical science student with plans to attend medical school, volunteered in the Emergency Room at the Civic Campus on Sunday mornings. When COVID-19 made it unsafe for volunteers to serve in the ER, Anne-Marie immediately looked for a new way to contribute.
The courtesy calls team was established in the early days of the pandemic to keep patients up to date on the hospital’s evolving COVID-19 protocols. Anne-Marie joined this team of volunteers nearly two years ago and is now a team lead, scheduling shifts and training new volunteers. Though hospital restrictions are now easing, the team of volunteers still calls patients to remind them about their appointments and provide directions on where to go.
For Anne-Marie, the most rewarding part about her role has been helping patients navigate these unprecedented times. “It was really nice to at least talk to patients and make them feel more comfortable coming into the hospital,” she says. “And it felt like I was doing my part to help people during COVID.”
Feeling inspired?
We are re-building our volunteer services slowly and will open a few opportunities every few months, so please check the website regularly for updates. We look forward to welcoming our community back into the hospital to help improve the patient experience! Visit our volunteer page for more information.
Meet more of our inspiring volunteers
- A busy nursing schedule hasn’t stopped Bao-Anh from volunteering
- Claude serves coffee and companionship at the Rehabilitation Centre
- Joanna helps guide chemotherapy patients through uncertain times
- Jocelyn inspires the next generation of health-care workers through virtual co-op program
- ‘I got discharged, and I never really left’: Former patient Maxime volunteers his coding skills
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