As you enter the Yorkton Regional Hospital you are greeted by the aroma of freshly brewed coffee coming from the hospital Gift Shoppe. The coffee is made by one of the many volunteers who work at the Gift Shoppe.
There are nearly 40 volunteers who give of their time to make the shop a success. Together they keep the Gift Shoppe open seven days a week, 12 hours a day including being open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and from 1 to 8 p.m. on Sundays. Volunteers are the people who make sure there is coffee, drinks, snacks and gifts available to the patients and staff in the always busy and bustling regional hospital.
The days are busy - but they can also be rewarding. Last year the Gift Shoppe sold just over 41,000 cups of coffee and 5,500 muffins. In addition it also sells used books, magazines, and health and beauty items.
That said, it's not just the items that are sold that make what the volunteers in the Gift Shoppe do so valuable; often they are the first person a distressed family member or a patient turns to when they are feeling they just have to talk to someone. They don't usually have to say a lot, they just have to be that person who is prepared to listen for a moment or two, to help someone be able to share their feelings for a moment. Often the volunteer gets to share in the excitement of the arrival of a new baby!
Volunteering in the Gift Shoppe is a terrific way to meet people and to stay in touch, suggests Ross Fisher, Executive Director of The Health Foundation. "Many of our volunteers are people who retired, and found they would like to get involved in something new, and have a reason to get out of the house.
"Volunteering at the Gift Shoppe is a great way to make a very meaningful contribution in our community. We need more volunteers in the Gift Shoppe."
If you think you might be interested and have three or four hours a week where you can make a few pots of coffee The Health Foundation would love to hear from you. Typically, volunteers work set shifts and there are four, three hour shifts in a day. The day starts at 7:30 a.m. and wraps up at 8 p.m.
To learn more call The Health Foundation at 786-0506.
