A ‘Youth Volunteer Appreciation Tea’ was held at St John Hospital Cafeteria on Tues. June 13, with Stuart Nechako Manor providing refreshments, and St. John Hospital Auxiliary providing cake. Volunteers received service recognition certificates and beautiful flowers as tokens of appreciation.
“We have come together this evening to celebrate the commitment and accomplishments of 15 Youth Volunteers,” said Edna Oryshchuk, Auxiliary Society President and Youth Volunteer Coordinator. “In total, in the past year, Stuart Nechako Manor and St John Hospital volunteers have given freely of their time to a total of 541 hrs. Youth Volunteers work their volunteer hours around school, school activities, homework and often part-time jobs.”
Unique program
Because of the support from St. John Hospital’s administration, staff and Auxiliary members, the Youth Volunteer program in Vanderhoof remains active. The Youth Volunteer Program coordinators – Edna Oryshchuk, Marilyn Moore and Marnie Bell spoke of their appreciation for the support. The program is actually quite unique. Fewer and fewer hospitals and health facilities are taking the time to keep Candy Striper programs going.
Unmistakably loyal
It’s a small group of extremely loyal Youth Volunteers, as they are called now, although they will always be known as “Candy Stripers” for their unmistakable red and white striped uniform they wear. “Dementia patients might struggle with their memory, but they always recognise a Candy Striper” said Edna. Volunteers return to the program every year and senior volunteers are most helpful with mentoring new junior members. New volunteers age 14+ are always welcome. They each get a comprehensive orientation before starting work and are always provided with supervision and support from nursing staff. Even one hour a week makes the world of difference in the lives of the patients and residents in long term care.
Bursary opportunities
There are a few ‘perks’ for the above commitments. Firstly, the St John Hospital Auxiliary not only supports the day-to-day running of the program but the Auxiliary donates $1,000 bursary to a High School graduate. This bursary is for students that are pursuing post secondary studies in a human healthcare field.
Secondly, the provincial body, British Columbia Association of Healthcare Auxiliaries (BCAHA), has a Tribute Fund available for our youth volunteers. BCAHA established the Tribute Fund to provide bursary support to students in the pursuit of post secondary studies in a healthcare field. Those eligible would have volunteered at least 100 hours in total over the duration of their membership in a BCAHA auxiliary sponsored Youth Program. The other requirements for the generous bursary are that the student must be pursuing studies in an accredited human healthcare program and in their second semester of their second or subsequent year of studies in a recognized post secondary institution.
St. John Hospital
Here is a list of the youth volunteers and their volunteer hours at the hospital for the past year – from June 1, 2016 to May 31, 2017:
Kamie Giesbrecht, 25 hrs
Andie Zwick, 25 hrs
Kayla Morin, 25 hrs
Brooklyn Pearson, 48 hrs
Nadia Zwick, 50 hrs
That’s a total of 219 hrs volunteered, essentially gifted to our Vanderhoof Hospital over the past year.
Edna noted that an astounding total of 6,260 volunteer hours were recorded for St. John Hospital in the 27 year period that she has lead the program, from Feb. 1990 to May 31, 2017.
Stuart Nechako Manor
Marnie Bell provided a list of the youth volunteers and their volunteer hours at the Stuart Nechako Manor for the past year – from June 1, 2016 to May 31, 2017:
Beth Mushumanski, 26 hrs
Juliana Hampson, 32 hrs
Isabella Hampson, 36 hrs
Rayea Johnson, 33 hrs (77 total hrs volunteered since 2015)
Bridian James- Schneider, 32 hrs (126 total hrs volunteered since 2014)
McKenna Friesen, 76 hrs (145 total hrs volunteered since 2015)
Chloe Friesen, 76 hrs (231 total hrs volunteered since 2013)
“Auxiliary members are proud to support this meaningful experience for our youth in Vanderhoof,” says Edna, “I see it as our way to giving back to the community of Vanderhoof. Our auxiliary would not be successful without support from the residents of Vanderhoof and from staff and management at St John Hospital and Stuart Nechako Manor.
Duty lists
Assignments youth volunteers may perform:serving fresh water, pre-fill plastic water cups with ice and water, before starting down the ward assist dietary staff with serving meal trays and picking up trays once the patient has finished eating collecting garbage from bedside and at the sink assisting with patient feeding tidy lobby area, patients’ day-room including bookshelf, “floor” kitchen magazines in lobby, lab, x-ray and outpatient waiting areas stocking tub rooms and shower room with 6 bath towels, 6 face cloths, 4 gowns, and 3 bath mats set up bassinets for newborns. Each bassinet requires, 1 sleeper, 4 diapers, 2 blankets – one lighter weight and one of heavier weight, sheet to cover mattress, small container of soap/shampoo, small container of normal saline fill bird feeder outside of room 133’s window diversional therapy – reading, playing cards or games, etc. folding pamphlets for maternity ward and place pamphlets in rack on wall folding pamphlets for Outpatient Department and place pamphlets in rack on wall collect empty pop bottles/cans in floor kitchen and ice machine room – take full bags of bottles up to dietary to the black bin in back of kitchen area. Make sure that these areas have clean bags for continuing bottle collection
When asked by a nurse the following duties may be done:assisting in the Children’s Room – Room 116 – (e.g. feeding, playing, comforting) delivering flowers and/or caring for flowers assisting with ambulatory or wheelchair patients (no lifting) assisting with patient grooming running errands within hospital for patients delivering mail or messages assisting staff whenever needed
– from files submitted by Edna Oryshchuk
