Just up the road from Vero Beach, Anthony Gabriel and Rose Marie Breinlinger at Sebastian River Medical Center are busy recruiting hospital volunteers, who play an important part in keeping the hospital running effectively.
Age, along with the departure of Treasure Coast “snow birds” for their northern roosts, has taken a toll on the hospital’s volunteer ranks.
Garbriel, who bears one of the longest titles around as “patient advocate and coordinator of volunteer services,” says, “We would love to see an additional 50 or more volunteers to keep [our] programs strong.”
Breinlinger, president of the hospital’s auxiliary, says that when “snowbirds” head north in the spring and summer, “at least 20 percent” of the Sebastian facility’s volunteers are gone until at least October or November.
Moreover, advancing age and natural physical infirmities that accompany it are just a fact of life that requires a constant influx of new volunteers, she says.
“For a hospital of this size,” Gabriel interjects, “we would love to see 400 volunteers, ideally.”
The skill set Gabriel and Breinlinger value most in volunteers of any age is far less technical than many might imagine.
“We are looking for volunteers who – number one – are compassionate and really are dedicated to providing a service,” explains Gabriel. As far as seniors go, according to Gabriel, “We have volunteers that have very different backgrounds currently on our team. Whether they worked in education or teaching or are retired vice presidents of a bank; all different walks of life. The skills they bring to the table are unique and very exciting . . . [as part of] a compassionate, understanding team that really wants to be here.”
Gabriel cites the Florida Student Scholarship Grant program known as “Bright Futures” as a motivation for younger volunteers.
“We have lots of students that want to take part in that,” Gabriel explains. “They have a [volunteer service] goal to achieve before they graduate high school. We work with the local high schools to help accomplish that goal, and in tandem their hours will be identified, and certainly be recognized, and gets them some good understanding if this is what they want to do maybe as a profession, as a career.”
Whether it’s a busy group of seniors or a highly social group of teens, Gabriel hastens to add that while the commitment is vital, it is not a full-time job that would need to take up a volunteer’s whole week or even day.
“We’re looking for a minimum of four hours a week,” he says. “We’re flexible and we’re understanding and we have a variety of programs available.”
Breinlinger mentions ambulatory, diagnostic and library services along with messengers, special-events helpers, the gift shop, the front desk and even the emergency room as volunteer opportunities. She quickly adds the hospital also needs people to drive the golf carts in the parking lot to bring patients to the front door as well as new programs in art and humor therapy the hospital wants to staff.
And, if the way to a volunteer’s heart is through his or her stomach, Gabriel has another incentive to offer – a free lunch. “We are one of the few hospitals that provide a free meal to our volunteers that provide us service during their shift, which is really outstanding.”
If you’re interested in volunteering at the Sebastian River Medical Center go to: http://www.sebastianrivermedical.com/about/volunteer-opportunities or call 772 589-3186 ext. 5011. More information on the Bright Futures program can be found at: http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/ssfad/bf/.