HaysMed Celebrates 30 Years of Volunteer Service Including Surprise Gift
On Thursday, November 7, 2024, the HaysMed Volunteer Corner Gift Shop hosted the Hays Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon cutting event to celebrate 30 years of volunteer service, and the updated new look to the HaysMed Volunteer Corner Gift Shop. The HaysMed Volunteers surprised the HaysMed Foundation with an extra special gift.
The HaysMed volunteers presented a surprise gift of $250,000 to the HaysMed Foundation Board of Directors in attendance, in honor of the volunteers 30-year anniversary. These funds were collected over the past several years through volunteer-ran events such as the Community Blood Screenings, Gift Shop proceeds, Annual Volunteer Bazaar & Bake Sale and other fundraisers held throughout each year.
Nikki Mihm, Director of Volunteer Services at HaysMed said, “We really do have the best volunteers and Associates at HaysMed. I am so blessed to be a part of this team and honored to present this check to the HaysMed Foundation on behalf of the volunteers.”
“This is an amazing gift because it’s a gift from the heart, and those are the most special gifts you can get. We’ll put this to good use for our patients, for our visitors, and for our Associates” commented Mike Polluck, HaysMed Foundation Treasurer.
Patty Wellbrock, a HaysMed volunteer, was a key member of the initial committee responsible for consolidating the volunteer organizations from Hadley Regional Medical Center and St. Anthony Hospital in 1994. Although the hospitals had merged their services in 1991, it required an additional three years for the volunteer groups to unify effectively into a single team, with their first project being the creation of the Meditation Garden. This garden is used for patients, visitors, and Associates alike, providing a place of solace and reprise. The volunteers still fund this project and added a new pond and two new bridges this year.
HaysMed currently has over 100 active volunteers. An average shift is four hours per week and they provide help at the information desk, gift shop, monthly blood screenings, crafters and so much more. HaysMed is always looking for more volunteers in each of these areas. Other volunteer opportunities include the HaysMed VolunTEEN program, a fantastic opportunity for area high school students interested in a career in the medical field. By volunteering at the hospital, students can gain firsthand experience in a healthcare setting, learn about various medical professions, and possibly earn school credit.
To find more information about becoming a HaysMed volunteer, please visit, https://www.haysmed.com/patients-visitors/#/volunteer-services
