This year marks a special occasion for the 250 men, women and students who collectively make up the St. Joseph Hospital Volunteers. The Volunteers are celebrating 50 years serving the hospital and North Coast community.

On March 17, 1958, 20 women decided to band together to give back to St. Joseph Hospital by volunteering their time. Their main purpose was "to offer volunteer service of at least four hours a week, assisting nurses and patients in many forms of non-professional service," and they were distinguished by their uniform, which consisted of a pink pinafore and a white blouse (hence their nickname, the "Pink Ladies").

Today, the hospital has a dynamic volunteer program comprised of more than 250 men, women and students ranging from 14 to nearly 90 years of age. Depending on individual interest, some of our volunteers serve directly with patients while others provide invaluable assistance in hospital support areas or in one of our community collaborative programs.

Each year the volunteers raise thousands of dollars through their various fundraising activities which include bake sales, raffles, rummage sales, proceeds from their gift shops, book and jewelry sales, and recycling - to name a few. All proceeds of the volunteers' fundraising efforts benefit patient care and scholarships for employees and college students seeking careers in health care.

The following outlines some of the volunteers' recent projects:

- Planned and initiated the volunteer program at Evergreen Lodge, a facility that provides
  cancer patients with temporary low-rent housing while they pursue treatment at the hospital;

- Support Willow Creek and Eureka Resource Centers and Kris Kelly Information Center;

- Ongoing donations to Heart Institute program and to the Blueprint for Excellence
  construction project;

- Started the Volunteer Recycling Program at St. Joseph Hospital;

- Annual donations of $20,000 for new equipment or programs through the Volunteer Grants;

- Developed and implemented the Sister Peggy Detert Educational Grant program of $10,000
  annually for students in local nursing school programs.

For more information about the volunteer program at St. Joseph Hospital, contact Marilyn Zibilich at 707-445-8121, ext. 7530.