It’s National Volunteer Week! A special thanks to all of our volunteers

Posted on April 24, 2017

Summary:

There’s no doubt that you’ve seen them throughout the hospital. Volunteers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) are an essential part of the SickKids team and help to make the hospital a better place.

By Stefanie Kieft, Intern, Corporate & Internal Communications

There’s no doubt that you’ve seen them throughout the hospital – wearing a shirt emblazoned with “volunteer” or the signature colours of the Women’s Auxiliary Volunteers (WAV). Volunteers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) are an essential part of the SickKids team and each and every volunteers give their time and energy to help make the hospital a better place. This week, we want to give them a big thanks for all the work that they do!

Young adult poses holding a cup of paintbrushes. — Ashley Abraham is one of the many volunteers who assist with programming for patients and Families in Marnie’s Lounge.

Volunteer Resources is a large group of individuals who volunteer their time around the clock, contributing over 147,000 hours annually! At any given time, they can have from 1,300 to 1,500 volunteers who assist in over 25 programs hospital-wide. From Child Life volunteers, to administrative and clerical volunteers, to those who assist with Pet Therapy and Consistent Care, this team is a committed and devoted group that works seven days a week to enhance programs and services, and assist staff in providing care!

Two women wearing matching blue aprons stand behind a shop counter. — Cecile Bergeron and Maureen Hunkin are two of the over 80 Women’s Auxiliary Volunteers who work in the 5Fifty5 Shop. Volunteer roles include buyers, merchandisers, stockers, sewers and cashiers.

The Women’s Auxiliary Volunteers is a group that has supported programs, services and fundraising at SickKids since 1950! The group is a force to be reckoned with, currently operating with 265 volunteer members who have given over 44,136 hours in 2016-17. They run a wide variety of programming, from staffing the Surgical Waiting Room, to the 5Fifty5 Shop, Play Park and the Main Information Desk. The WAV has volunteers working in over five clinics and runs the Bravery Beads program and the Poster Express, among others. WAV has a wide reaching impact at SickKids, and many of their members have been active for decades.

A big thanks to all of our volunteers, including patients and families who participate on hospital committees, the many people who volunteer for our research studies, and everyone else who helps enhance programming and service at the hospital. Their dedication, commitment and time help make SickKids a better place for all!

If you want to learn more about volunteering at SickKids, check out the Volunteering page on the SickKids website.