Havre, Montana – April 19th through the 25th is National Health Care Volunteer Week and Northern Montana Health Care (NMHC) is proud to celebrate their volunteers.
President Richard Nixon established National Volunteer Week with an executive order in 1974, as a way to recognize and celebrate the efforts of volunteers. Since then, the original emphasis on celebration has widened; the week has become a nationwide effort to urge people to get out and volunteer in their communities. Every April, charities, hospitals, and communities recognize volunteers and foster a culture of service.
At NMHC the Northern Montana Hospital (NMH) Volunteer Auxiliary is going strong. The services and amenities they provide to the organization help the overall experience at NMHC immensely. From delivering coffee to visitors on the Medical/Surgery floor to sending greeting cards to all of the residents at the Northern Montana Care Center (NMCC); from playing Bingo with a NMCC Resident to stocking and staffing two gift shops on campus; these folks volunteer their time and talents to make these things happen.
Although the volunteers are not currently working at NMHC during the COVID-19 crisis, they will be needed once again as the hospital reopens. “We’ll need our Volunteers more than ever once we resume our normal operations.” stated Brian Williams, VP of Professional Services at NMHC. “The services they provide are so vital to our overall mission. Their absence is definitely being felt here so we look forward to their return. As folks are working later in life, the overall number of volunteers has declined. We’re hoping that the Social Distancing being practiced now is eye-opening to our community, and that they will see the need to be more involved in helping others. The Human Connection is so strong.”
In addition to helping with the gift shops at NMH, volunteers provide assistance with activities at the long term care facility as well. Whether community member have extra time during the day or on the weekends, the volunteers would love to have them participate.
“We have Volunteers that work for us just a few hours a month” said Mim Tchida, Volunteers Supervisor at NMHC. “We also have Volunteers that come in several days a week. The level of involvement is entirely up to them. We’re looking to expand our program so that more folks can experience the joy of volunteering.” She added.
For more information on volunteering, call Mim Tchida at (406) 262-1330.