Back in the day, you’d see (mostly) girls wearing cute pink striped pinafores in hospitals. These volunteers were called “Candy Stripers” and would perform duties such as taking magazines to patients and working at reception desks. Were there any male “Candy Stripers?” I’m not sure. Back then, adult hospital volunteers, again, mostly women, were called “Gray Ladies.” Not because many of them had gray hair, but because their uniforms were gray.
Now, that has all changed. You’ll find almost as many males as females volunteering at hospitals, and some husbands and wives even volunteer together.
On April 24, HCA Oak Hill Hospital honored these workers with a buffet luncheon and presented them with pins and special awards to recognize their years of service. These men and women, who as a total have given 21,534 hours performing such duties as working in the gift shop, greeting visitors and patients, and even going so far as to accompany a visitor who has a phobia about riding in elevators. Many people don’t know that there is a corps of volunteers who bring their dogs to the hospital to comfort and ease patients’ anxiety.
Some of the honorees had served just a year or so with less than 100 volunteer hours, while some have almost made it a career. Kay Jensen, who received an Outstanding Service Award, has volunteered for twenty-seven years and amassed 6,500 hours.
In awarding Kay this honor, hospital CEO Ken Wicker stated, “The nursing staff speak warmly of her eagerness to help in any way possible. Her sharing of warm family stories and recipes and the wisdom she shares is appreciated and cherished.”
Wicker praised the volunteers for their unselfish service. Some of these men and women were “essential workers” during the COVID-19 pandemic, donning masks and working through this traumatic period.
Wicker presented the Distinguished Service Award, along with a $500 gift card, to Jim and Mari Lou Rozga. The couple, married for sixty-nine years, have been volunteering since 1990.
“Their adaptability, reliability, and unwavering passion make them beloved by co-workers. Their selflessness and vibrant energy seem to defy time, inspiring everyone they meet. They truly exemplify how giving back, not only uplifts others, but also enriches one’s own life,” Wicker stated.
An Outstanding Service Award was presented to Charlie Orens, who shuttles people from the parking lot to the hospital entrance in the golf carts. Like the postal workers who deliver the mail through “rain, sleet and snow,” Charlie works in blazing heat and bitter cold (at least as cold as Florida gets!), as well as rain showers, to make sure that people arrive at the hospital door in comfort. Charlie has accrued more than 1,800 volunteer hours since 2022.
Speaking to the volunteers, Chief Nursing Officer Sheila Sanders remarked, “We cannot do what we do without you. Our volunteer base is what drives our hospital.” She also recognized the teen volunteers, who sometimes go on to have careers in healthcare.
Gary Ross, who has been volunteering since 2018, and his wife, Linda, a volunteer since 2023, are one of the couples who have devoted their time to the hospital.
Gary started out as a golf cart driver and now works at the North Tower welcome desk. Linda works in the gift shop.
Besides being a PR person for Oak Hill, Gary stepped up to the plate during COVID-19 and helped out. Occasionally, he has even served as a witness when a patient needed to fill out their final healthcare directives. Gary states that he started volunteering because he wanted to give back to the community.
In addressing the volunteers, Loren Williams, President of the Oak Hill Volunteer Association, stated, “Our dedicated teens and adults have stepped in wherever needed, ensuring that every patient and their family members receive comfort and care in their time of stress.”
Candace Rose, Vice President of the Oak Hill Hospital Volunteer Association, has been there since 2019, having served as a volunteer for 16 years up north before retiring.
“It’s a way for me to express gratitude for my many blessings,” she said. “I find the work incredibly rewarding and cherish the relationships I have built with the doctors, nurses, administration, and fellow volunteers.”
In commenting about the effect COVID-19 had on the volunteer program, Candace stated, “Despite the challenges, we maintained a small team of about 30 volunteers, ensuring strict sanitation protocols and being among the first to get vaccinated.”
So often, the public sees volunteers, such as the men and women at Oak Hill, and doesn’t understand the value they give to their organizations. I doubt that any of these folks seek recognition. It’s gratifying, however, to see that the hospital doesn’t take them for granted and honors their efforts.
For more information about volunteering at HCA Oak Hill Hospital, go to https://www.hcafloridahealthcare.com/locations/oak-hill-hospital/for-visitors/volunteers or call (352) 597-3038.
