Volunteers are a ‘gift to the community’

By Chris Abbott

Editor

The slogan ‘volunteers are a gift to the community’ is on a sign at Norfolk General Hospital as they celebrate National Volunteer Week, April 27 to May 4.

Two of those ‘gifts’ are Cara Blackwood, communications chair for The Volunteer Association to Norfolk General Hospital and Norfolk Hospital Nursing Home, and Lois Craig, the Volunteer Association president.

“I worked here, on and off, since 1975-76, I think, and I retired in 2014,” said Craig, who years ago worked at the switchboard, and as a lab secretary when she retired.

While working at the hospital, Craig coordinated student volunteers, and she was president of the Simcoe branch of volunteers three times.

“I was continuing to volunteer all the time I was working.”

Craig said she loves meeting people, working with the staff, and communications.

“I’m a people person, always have been,” she smiled. “Through the volunteering, I’ve met so many people and made so many friends. Lasting friendships.

“When you are involved with so much, a lot of stuff is very stressing. But here, when you come and help, you know you are helping people. You are taking your mind off your own problems… because other people are suffering more than you are.”

Blackwood, who was a high school teacher for more than 30 years, started volunteering in healthcare after retiring.

In addition to volunteering with The Volunteer Association to Norfolk General Hospital and Norfolk Hospital Nursing Home, she is a Wheels of Hope driver for cancer patients, and she is a volunteer with Canadian Blood Services at blood donor clinics.

“That’s really important to me.”

Blackwood also bakes at Riversyde 83 and is a volunteer usher at Lighthouse Festival Theatre.

“I need to be of use. I need to feel that I am useful, and when you’ve been in education for over 30 years, you are used to being of use. When I retired, I thought I would sit around and read books all day, and that lasted about half an hour. I just thought, ‘I can’t do this…. I have to do something that is useful.’”

At that point, Blackwood launched her volunteering ‘career.’

“The things that I do here (NGH) are things that I can see immediate value… That’s my main reason for doing this. I love lots of things about it – I love the people, the patients, the general public, and the staff.

“The old question, ‘what is your reason for getting up in the morning?’ My reason is this, I need to feel like what I am doing is useful.”

chris@granthaven.com