Volunteering in the Trenches

No two volunteers look alike. Take Ron Barnard, for example. A retired magistrate From New York, Ron has traded his judge’s robes for shorts and work boots as he gets down and dirty in the trenches, installing irrigation systems for us.

Ron, hubby of Pharmacist Donna Barnard, was introduced to Bruce Chancellor, Hospice’s Facilities Director, at our United Way Day of Caring project last March. Ron offered his expertise in irrigation to Bruce, who wasted no time putting him “to work” as a volunteer. So far, his dirty work has saved the company at least $5,000. And…he loves it, insisting on three days work a week.

“I walk away from volunteering at hospice with my heart all a-pitter-patter,” says Ron, whose father was cared for by hospice in NY. At left, he gets ready to ride in his fully equipped truck, which sports a Betty Boop theme, from steering wheel cover to license plates.

The Cartwright Award Goes To…

Bill Mayer! And why not? Bill has been a familiar and enthusiastic presence since 1997. He started with the Speaker’s Bureau and moved on to become a Patient Support and Transitions volunteer.

As a charter member of the Legacy House volunteers, Bill has been a greeter and patient visitor since 2003, and has also volunteered at the Butterfly Festivals, Steel Horse Stampedes, Flutterbye Days, Camp Mariposa and just about every special event that supports hospice! In 2009, Bill joined a new hospice service through which volunteers can help patients write life stories to leave to their families. So far, he has written six memoirs that will be forever cherished by our hospice families.

Despite his long and illustrious “career” with us, Bill was both thrilled and surprised on December 2 when his name was announced as the 2009 winner. The Cartwright Award was established in 1993 in recognition of Dr. Thomas H. Cartwright, who is a previous Medical Director for Hospice of Marion County and served on the Board of Directors for 10 years. This distinguished award is only presented every two years at the Volunteer Holiday Luncheon to a member of our community who has helped our mission by “embodying the hospice spirit, serving as a spokesperson and advocate, and going above and beyond to ensure that hospice services are available to all who need them.”

The nomination submission for Bill described his selfless service: “Bill is a remarkable role model in the diverse ways he has chosen to serve Hospice of Marion County. He has accepted assignments in a variety of settings with an open mind, kind and gentle spirit, and genuine warmth that endears him to everyone. Bill’s willingness to help in whatever role is needed sets a positive example to others about the importance of being involved in the community. And he accomplishes this without seeking recognition or attention to himself.”

As the announcement was being read (the name isn’t revealed until the end), Bill slowly began to realize that he was the awardee, rendering him speechless. Only later was he able to say, “This is a tremendous honor and completely unexpected. I thoroughly enjoy my volunteer experience with Hospice of Marion County and hope to stay actively involved for years to come!”

Former recipients of the Cartwright Award include volunteers Fran Widick, Ruth Goldstine, and Doug and Sherri Brown.

Bridging the Language Barrier: Easy as Uno-Dos-Tres

Raquel Cervantes is happy to show customers some of the great values at the Belleview Hospice Thrift Stores, including furniture that is in top-notch condition.

Raquel Cervantes was born in Mexico, but spent most of her adult life in Chicago. Although she has lived in the U.S. for 39 years, she spoke almost no English at her waitress job or at home with her family. After her husband’s death she moved to Ocala to be closer to her sister. That was three years ago, and today, Raquel is creating a new life...and learning a new language.

Encouraged by friends Janet and Howard Smith at the College Road Baptist Church, Raquel decided to start meeting new people by volunteering at the Hospice Thrift Store in Belleview. However, the language difference was a barrier so she signed up for the English as a Second Language class at the church, which happens to be taught by Janet and Howard.

The invitation to volunteer at the thrift store was two-fold, says Janet: “We thought this experience would quickly help her improve her English because of the communication with customers and other volunteers. Her bright energy is a big help and we love having her with us at the store.”

The Smiths were right. Raquel has been volunteering with Hospice of Marion County since 2006. She assists the cashier with packing and bagging items for customers. Her native language is particularly helpful when dealing with several of the regular Latino customers. “I enjoy talking to people and helping them,” says Raquel. “Hospice of Marion County has been wonderful to me and I look forward to seeing all my new friends and co-workers.”

In addition to her volunteer work and church activities, Raquel spends time gardening and decorating her home. “I get a great deal of pleasure from flowers and working in my yard.”

The call is open at Hospice of Marion County for energetic people who want to learn and serve others like Raquel, Janet, and Howard. Currently, the Hospice of Marion County volunteer corps numbers 600 dedicated individuals who contributed more than 60,000 hours in 2010.

Thrift Store volunteers assist the managers staff in a variety of ways. Sales associates are provided specialized on-the-job and customer service training. In addition to working in the Thrift Stores, Hospice of Marion County volunteers support care by making in-home visits, nursing home visits, bereavement calls and performing office duties, as well as event support at fundraisers. All volunteers are required to attend a 20-hour Orientation session, which is a great learning experience. Hours are flexible; seasonal volunteers are also welcome. Call the Volunteer Office at 352-873-7441 to learn more or visit the Web site at www.hospiceofmarion.com and click on the Volunteers tab. Click on the English-Spanish cell in the upper right corner of the page to change languages.