Celebrating Gilchrist’s Amazing Volunteers

Gilchrist joins nonprofit organizations across the country to celebrate their volunteers during National Volunteer Week — April 7 to 13. This year’s theme is Celebrate Service. We’d like to shine a light on our volunteers and thank them for all that they do every day for Gilchrist and our patients.

Gilchrist is honored to work with over 500 volunteers who selflessly share their time, talent and compassion with the families we serve. Not a day goes by that we aren’t moved by some gesture of kindness by a volunteer.

Recently, we heard this from a caregiver: “I don’t know what I would have done without our volunteer. I’m taking care of both of my aging parents, and without him, I would never get a break. Sometimes I just go for a walk or take a long bath. It’s just nice to know that I can turn my brain off and know that I don’t have to worry about anything while he is there.”

This is just one small example of the many ways our volunteers are making a difference for Gilchrist’s patients and their families. No matter their role, their contribution is invaluable.

So far this year, Gilchrist volunteers have visited over 1,000 families and have donated over 18,000 hours of their precious time. We are grateful to our patient care volunteers who sit beside with those who are dying, and provide respite for weary caregivers. We are grateful for the volunteers in our Gilchrist Centers who greet people, bake cookies and visit patients.

We are grateful to our bereavement volunteers who provide support to families after the loss of their loved one. We are grateful for our yoga instructors, Reiki masters and massage therapists, and our volunteers who cut hair. And we are grateful to our veterans and our administrative volunteers who help us keep things running smoothly. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts!

If you would like to join the Gilchrist family of volunteers, please visit www.gilchristcares.org/volunteer/.