Longview Regional Medical Center in need of volunteers due to impact of COVID-19

Published 5:45 am Thursday, January 20, 2022

Longview Regional Medical Center is continuing to seek volunteers as the impact of the COVID-19 continues.

Volunteers are expected to spend at least four hours a week providing support to hospital staff while extending hospitality to patients, family members and visitors, according to the hospital. The Volunteer Auxiliary also holds fundraisers to provide scholarships for graduating high school seniors pursuing a career in health care and also support nonprofit community organizations such as Longview Community Ministries, Hope Haven, Hiway 80 Rescue Mission, Women’s Center of East Texas and others.

Janice Benton, vice president of the auxiliary, has volunteered for more than 40 years and helped start the auxiliary.

At the time, Benton was an elementary teacher in Longview.

She said they had no problem getting volunteers.

“We had people that were just really excited about becoming members, and the hospital was still small. Of course everybody was excited about the hospital because it was going to be the new, second hospital in town, so we didn’t have any problems getting members,” she said.

The purpose of the committee was to find people interested in helping and serving the needs of patients. Together, the group proposed an organization plan that would offer continuing opportunities for volunteers to lend assistance to the hospital’s purpose.

Benton and her husband were once both patients at Longview Regional. Seeing the hospital from a different perspective, she said, confirmed she volunteered her time to a quality facility.

“When someone walks into the hospital, they’re not in the best mood and usually somebody’s anxious. I know there’s been several times I’m able to see that anxiety on their face, and sometimes, just a kind word or a smile when they get to us and we tell them we will walk them where they need to go, we make sure we (offer) whatever we can do,” she said. “We’re touching the lives of other people while we’re serving.”

She said volunteering is a satisfaction and a privilege. Although COVID-19 has prevented patients from going into more areas of the hospital, there are various areas to help volunteer, such as at information desks, surgical areas, patient comfort areas and more.

Benton said eight volunteers have died during the pandemic, and some are still afraid to return to the hospital to volunteer because of possible exposure.

There are no requirements for volunteers other than to be able-bodied and want to help others. Volunteers receive a free meal ticket for every four hours they volunteer on their assigned day, receive a free uniform jacket or vest, a free flu vaccine each year and attend activities such as birthday breakfasts, employee picnics and luncheons.

“The best part is we meet a lot of people, make new friends within the volunteers and even … made friends with people who frequent the hospital. … We’re a little family,” she said.

Barbara McMichael, volunteer for six years and treasurer of the volunteer auxiliary, said after she retired from working at the hospital, she felt she needed to do something productive.

She mostly sits at the information desk and assists visitors in where to go and with general information about the hospital.

“You go home at night and know that you were successful at helping people, and all the staff there is so appreciative. When we were out on COVID leave and got to come back, they ran up and hugged us and told us they really missed us,” McMichael said.

Anyone interested in volunteering can call (903) 232-3703.