We Are Family

Some of these people are great-grandparents. Others are in their teens. But the volunteers for Memorial Healthcare System are a close-knit community who share one thing in common: the rich rewards of helping others.

June 2001 — Jeanne Campigotto's volunteer work has touched the lives of thousands of patients and visitors at Memorial Regional Hospital. And perhaps no one is more grateful than Campigotto herself.

"It's my therapy when I come here," she says. 

Formerly a nun who taught high school math, Campigotto moved from Brooklyn to South Florida because of declining health. Although she has undergone a kidney transplant and wears an insulin pump, she now helps her father care for her mother, who has Alzheimer's disease.

But the shadow of illness fades at dawn when Campigotto wakes up to go to her volunteer job at Memorial's gift shop. Arriving at 6 a.m. every Saturday, she stocks merchandise and folds clothes to sell. By the time the shop opens at 9 a.m., she is free to make friendly conversation with her customers. "A lot of people visit from out of state," she said. "They like to talk."

Campigotto also volunteers in the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital playroom three days a week. "We help children during recreation therapy and take games to those who can't leave their bed. Sometimes we help feed babies. It's very rewarding. My problems are nothing," she says. "My life is happy and blessed when I'm helping these children. It's my second career."

Something for Everyone

Memorial Healthcare System has a wide variety of volunteer jobs at its facilities. Although many of the volunteers work only part-time, they develop close ties, both to one another and to the people they serve.

"Most of the employees know me," says Shirley Cohen, another gift shop volunteer. "It's like a family here."

Cohen, originally from New York City, has volunteered nearly 15,000 hours in the last 30 years. "I've met a lot of nice people," she said. "I like selling gifts and talking to everybody. I'm a pretty good salesperson."

She and Campigotto are among the 28 adult and 17 teenage volunteers that make sure the gift shop is open every day, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Because of their efforts, the gift shop contributes approximately $250,000 to the hospital annually.

"We could never achieve the gift shop goals without the volunteers," says Stephanie Hubbard, who manages the operation. "They're very dedicated. Many of them have a professional background, which helps run this business."

Younger volunteers, on the other hand, bring a fresh outlook and a sense of wonder. 

Donna Massa, 18, has accumulated 550 hours at the gift shop and at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. Her experience has been instrumental in helping her decide on her future career: nursing. "I've seen how the nurses care for the babies, and I also help the child life specialist in the playroom. Seeing ill children makes me want to help them feel better," she says.

Because volunteerism is contagious, it's not uncommon to see husbands and wives working side by side at various jobs. 

Bea and Lenny Polak are a popular couple who have volunteered at Memorial for the last 20 years. Twice a week they sell candy bars, gum and cookies from the Sweet Cart, located outside Memorial's cafeteria. Married 62 years, they love to kid around with employees.

"He wears a sailor cap, and when he takes the cap off, the employees say, 'Put your cap on,' " Bea says. "When he puts his cap on, they kiss him on the cheek."

 

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