The joy of volunteering

If you asked my husband why his wife volunteers, his answer would be "Because she doesn't know how to say 'No.'"

Honestly, I have thought about that for a long time. But it isn't the same as you might think. Frankly, I can't say "No, thanks" because I am compelled as a Christian to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Would Jesus say "No, thanks" to being the dean for Children's Camp? Would Jesus say "No, thanks" to working at the local museum to preserve our local history for future generations? Would Jesus say "No, thanks" to serving as a trustee for a Christian college? And would Jesus say "No, thanks" to serving at our local hospital and care center? Emphatically, the answer would be "Of course, not!

There are two Bible verses that stand out about why volunteering is so important to me. I John 4:19 says, "We love because He first loved us." In other words, we love and do things for others (volunteering) as a natural, innate response to what Jesus did for us when He willingly went to the cross and died for our sins. He took our place and He did it for us. When we fully understand the magnitude of that wondrous, awesome gift we cannot help ourselves from volunteering.

The other verse is Acts 20:29, "Jesus said, 'It is more blessed to give than receive." I learned what this verse truly means when I worked as the Activity Director at the care center. It was Halloween 1999 when I fully learned this lesson. Some candy had been donated for the residents to pass out to any Trick-or-Treaters who might stop by. I never have been big on Halloween with its witches, ghosts, etc. I was going to leave the candy with one the Activity Aids and head home when a nurse said, "Ila, I think you're really going to miss a great public relations opportunity if you miss the Trick-or-Treaters." And so, I stayed and what I saw changed by mind and heart completely about Trick-or-Treating at the care center. I saw in the faces of the residents the absolute joy in giving a piece of candy to a child. (A piece of candy to a child!!!!!!) And then that Bible verse came back to my mind, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

It didn't matter about my personal feelings about Halloween. What truly mattered was giving residents the opportunity to give, an innate need within each of us. And so, the next year and every year after that I served as the Chaplain/Activity Director for Northern Montana Health Care I did everything I possibly could to allow the care center residents to "give a piece of candy to a child." Toward the end, 100 residents gave 1,500 pounds of candy to 1,000 kids!

The candy was almost entirely donated by employees and the NMHC Volunteer Auxiliary. They gave so others could give.

Because of Halloween, I started looking for other ways residents could volunteer and give to others. "Listen In" brought a different third grade class to the care center each month. The residents listened and they helped the children perfect their reading skills by reading aloud. Residents helped "Pack-a-Backpack" by filling them with school supplies for the coming year. We decorated shoe boxes for "Operation Christmas Child" and filled them with socks, toothbrushes, and candy for children in third world countries. At every opportunity we looked for ways to give residents the opportunity to give to others.

It is my honor to presently be the secretary for the Northern Montana Health Care Volunteer Auxiliary. It is a wonderful organization whose sole purpose is to make life better for the patients at the hospital and the residents at the care center. Different opportunities of service are: Information Desk, the Hospitality Cart, Gift Shops (Stop-and Shop at the hospital and Cottonwood at the care center), Hospice, visiting at the care center, Introduction to Volunteering (a kid's class on Fridays), newspaper delivery, Volunteens and sending birthday and holiday greeting cards to the care center residents.

Deanna Berg is a relatively new volunteer but she is far from being new to the hospital. She started as a candy striper between her freshman and sophomore years of high school. Recently she completed 42 years of service as a ward clerk. Why do you volunteer, Deanna? "It's a social outlet. I get to see many of the people I worked with over the years. And I'm doing a service to others. The volunteers give back to the community by making life better for the residents and patients. Recently the volunteers bought two beautiful cribs for the nursery. I'm proud of that."

When Gary Wallace was asked why he volunteers he readily answered, "They need somebody. I feel good about myself. I meet lots of nice people." Gary worked for BNSF for 30 years, one month and one day before starting three years of volunteering for HRDC at the Lincoln-McKinley Primary School kitchen. Gary started out volunteering at NMHC by delivering mail to the care center residents where he got to know and appreciate many residents. Helping the residents with a magnifier was especially rewarding. Gary adds, "I prefer volunteering over hunting and fishing. It gets me out of the house and going. All is good."

Claire Wendland served many years as the volunteer director. She was followed by Mim Tchida.

Elizabeth Lindbom started a year and a half ago and had huge shoes to fill. She is doing an excellent job of training future generations through her "Introduction to Volunteering" for school age kids on Fridays and well as enabling the present volunteers to do their jobs at the highest and most rewarding levels.

Volunteers are shown gratitude by free immunizations and appreciation luncheons.

April is Volunteer Month. Volunteering reduces stress, combats depression, keeps participants mentally stimulated and provides a sense of purpose. Volunteering signals that you're a pro-active person and you like to spend your time wisely, investing it in something you love and care about. Although there is no financial payment, the reward is worth millions when you know you are making a difference in the lives of others. So, why don't you volunteer?

If you are interested in volunteering, please call the hospital and ask for Elizabeth Lindbom, director of volunteering. You will bless others and be blessed yourself.

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Ila McClenahan is a retired chaplain and activity director living in the Amos community north of Havre. She spends her "retired" days writing, speaking for various events, and volunteering as well as trying to be a good wife, mother and grandmother.