I visited the Health Fair at the Watsonville Hospital on October 24, and I was impressed with how it was organized. I felt very welcome and was guided by confident helpers. When I expressed my gratitude to one of the people, I was told I should tell this to the president of the organization. That was the way I met Cindy Welch, the acting president of the Service League of the Watsonville Community Hospital. The Service League is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1969. Their mission statement reads: "... to serve the people, patients and staff in the hospital."
Through their untiring work, the Service League has supported the hospital for more than 30 years. And they are always looking for new members to serve as volunteers.
The Service League runs the coffee shop inside the hospital and is very successful with a paid cook in the kitchen and nice volunteers up front. People who work nearby come in for lunch. Who would voluntarily go inside a hospital to eat? It must be the food. And indeed the food is delicious and very affordable. I tried a salad with tuna, eggs, and cottage cheese; it was nutritionally balanced, I liked it very much.
The Service League has a teddy bear program. Each child staying in the hospital gets a teddy bear. This is not an ordinary teddy; it's hand-made by members of the League. It has a painted, smiling face and no buttons at all to be a danger to younger children. Cindy told me the story of a child who was wheeled to an x-ray with his teddy with him. On the x-rays the contours of the teddy were visible. How would you feel if that had been your child? Safe and loved.
Another program the Service League does is "cap knitting." Members and volunteers knit caps for newborn babies. Each mother goes home with the cap she received as a gift for her newborn. Isn't this remarkable?
Then there is the parking lot tram. The Service League purchased a golf cart, which is operated by volunteers as a service for the hospital. It transports people from the parking lot to the hospital and back.
A special treasure is the gift shop inside the hospital that contains all the nice, beautiful little things, including flowers, people can buy and bring to the bedside of a friend of loved one.
The "Old Spice team," is the group of people, volunteers from the Service League, who raise money every year performing the Relay of Life — a 24-hour walk-a-thon for the American Cancer Society.
The annual Halloween bake sale and sale of Easter baskets are fundraiser for the Service League. Employees can hardly wait to buy the outstanding homemade baked goods or the handmade treats inside the baskets.
The respectful and loving way the volunteers treat each other is remarkable. The whole atmosphere is so positive I could stay there for days.
The members of the League are looking for new volunteers. Interested people must be at least 18 years of age. Young people are also welcomed. The League is also looking for bilingual volunteers. Also, volunteers with only a little time are welcomed. The League is able to create a schedule tailored to the time you have available. There is no ate limit; the oldest volunteer is 94 years young. I was told that she is very sharp and forgets nothing.
The members gather together to socialize at the annual barbecue.
If you sign up to be a part of this wonderful program, I promise you will have a lot of fun. You will meet new people and perhaps new friends. The Service League asks for nothing, except your time. Whether you have a lot of a little of time, come forward and bring a friend. To make contact or for more information, write to: Service League, c/o Cindy Welch, Watsonville Hospital, 75 Nielson Road, Watsonville, CA 95078, or call 831-724-4741 ext. 1510. The Service League is accepting donations.
Giving and sharing is one of the messages the holiday season teaches us, regardless of our religious preferences. Service League members give and share, not only during the holidays, but all through the year. Try it. I wish all of you a peaceful holiday season.
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These articles originally appeared in Ruth F. Martin's column "Seniors' Choices" in the newspaper Register-Pajaronian (Watsonville, California).
To contact Ruth about consulting services, please call (831) 632-0603 or email her at info@healthandseniorcare.org.
©2003 by Ruth F. Martin. All rights reserved.
