Fort Hamilton’s volunteer staff creates community and family over thousands of donated hours
Entering Fort Hamilton Hospital, some of the first faces you’ll see are the volunteers who direct traffic, answer questions, and help patients and visitors find their way. On any given day, familiar faces may be staffing these desks, and their comfortable rapport with each other makes the experience of coming into the hospital much more welcoming.
One concept, popularized by Malcolm Gladwell, states that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to master a skill. By this measure, Mary Ann and Wayne have mastered volunteering at Fort Hamilton Hospital: Mary Ann has nearly volunteered 16,000 hours there, while Wayne clocks in at over 12,000 hours. For context, full-time workers put in about 2000 hours a year, so these two, volunteering part-time, have sustained their commitment for more than a decade each.
Mary Ann and Wayne have around 28,000 volunteer hours combined.
All the Fort Hamilton volunteers can be seen throughout the hospital, lending a hand and running errands, answering phones and accompanying newcomers so they don’t get lost. The volunteers form a cohort of support who can jump in to assist staff with non-medical tasks, from restocking needed supplies to carrying packages to the floors where they are needed.
“I especially like taking flowers and gifts up to the rooms on the hospital floors,” says Mary Ann. “That’s really fun.”
While sitting at the info desk, Mary Ann, Wayne, and their fellow volunteers have bonded over shared experiences and connections, as well as silly quirks like the funny socks that Mary Ann likes to wear. If you watched them for a few minutes, you’d think they knew every single staff member and many of the patients, given how quickly they can strike up a conversation.
“This work filled my days after my grandchildren got older,” explains Mary Ann. “It’s fulfilling because you get to meet people and have conversations with them. This is the bright spot in my life.”
Wayne downplays his own commitment despite the fact that he spends four days a week volunteering, two days at the information desk and two days in the Emergency Department. His knowledge of the hospital provides invaluable experience that can assist volunteers and staff alike who are new to the team.
“I had a couple of bouts of cancer, and I wanted to give back, since people were so kind to me,” says Wayne. “If you want to be occupied and enjoy spending time with people, this is a fantastic job. Most people come in here to see a loved one who is sick so they are feeling down; when we can, we try to make them a little happier.”
The volunteers grow to recognize when people need a smile and an encouraging word in addition to the information they seek. Mary Ann also points out how volunteers can be a positive influence even when someone is not in a great mood due to stress or fear.
“You have to stay calm and always respond appropriately to everyone who approaches the information desk. I have grown more calm in this job,” says Mary Ann.
After this many years, the staff of the hospital have grown to recognize the familiar faces and value the unique and uplifting community of having long-time volunteers.
“I was gone last week, and someone said ‘you can’t believe the people who asked after you,’” says Mary Ann. “Maybe I have more friends than I know!”
Wayne has a funny analogy for how integral Mary Ann is to the Fort Hamilton Hospital volunteer team; the same analogy could be used for him as well.
“She’s like a doorknob; she has to be here, and if she isn’t there, you want to know what happened,” says Wayne.
If you are interested in volunteering at Fort Hamilton Hospital, please visit ketteringhealth.org/volunteer and select Fort Hamilton for the volunteer application.