Carl Schaake remembers spending several days in Lawrence Memorial Hospital when he was 65.
He didn't enjoy it and most of the time he just thought of getting home.
"I told the nurses and the doctors that if I got out of there, I'd come back and help," Schaake said.
He made good on his promise. For the past 15 years, Schaake has served as a volunteer at LMH.
Schaake is one of about 300 volunteers, a corps vital to smooth operation of the hospital, said Allyson Leland, director of volunteer services.
Volunteers escort patients, stock supplies and clean rooms. They also help in the gift shop, do some clerical work and serve as a liaison between families and surgical staff.
"Basically, they are supporting the staff in order to help the patients," Leland said.
Some volunteers said they worked at the hospital because they liked the organization and the people.
"It's an enjoyable thing," said Alan Fisher, who is retired. "Quite frankly, I enjoy getting up Wednesday morning and getting ready to come in at noon."
Amber Tremain, 14, West Junior High School eighth-grader, waits for the elevator at Lawrence Memorial Hospital as she delivers an arrangement of flowers to a patient in the maternity ward. Amber was volunteering as an escort Thursday afternoon and was responsible for everything from delivering flowers to helping direct patients.
Fisher usually works as an escort Wednesday afternoons, but is willing to fill in other times.
Most volunteers are either between the ages of 14 and 21 or are 65 and older, Leland said. The hospital has a junior volunteer program for junior and senior high school students between the ages of 14 and 18. This summer, about 65 students were involved.
"I learned a lot by doing it," said 16-year-old Sarah Rew, who attends Free State High School. "I'm interested in medicine, so I thought this would be helpful, and I like getting to interact with a lot of people."
Using volunteers is commonplace at hospitals. But before people can volunteer at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, they are put through an interview process and background check.
How to volunteer
People interested in volunteering at Lawrence Memorial Hospital should call 840-3141 or send an e-mail to alleland@lmh.org to set up an appointment for an interview.
"We do a lot of screening," said Leland, who has been with the hospital for 15 years. "Hospitals are so regulated. So, it can be a matter of just because you offer your time doesn't mean we will accept your time."
Volunteers, once accepted, go through routine training and orientations where they learn about patient privacy.
Schaake said sometimes the most difficult part of the job is not talking about who he sees in the hospital. But he said when he walks out the door, he doesn't think about it.
"It used to be that there was a whole list, and you could just walk in and look at it," he said. "But you just respect people's rights, and you just don't talk about what and who you have seen."
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