Hinton, W.Va. – “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

― Fred Rogers

Hospitals, by nature, are full of helpers.

Angela Rivera, CEO/CNO at Summers County Hospital, is looking to add a few more.

“We’re revamping our volunteer program and would really like to see it grow,” she said.

As part of the program restructuring, hospital administration made the decision to close the gift shop, run for decades by a group of dedicated auxiliary members. Rivera said its former location will be converted into a retail space that will serve hospital staff and visitors as well as community members.

“First and foremost,” she said, “We want to thank the volunteers who not only dedicated their time to running the gift shop, but who also donated much-appreciated funds to the hospital at various times.

“With that said, we’re always listening to our staff and visitors,” she continued, “and we’re excited to utilize the space in a new way that we believe can be enjoyed by all who pass through our doors.”

The change, Rivera explained, also allows the opportunity to restructure the way volunteers are used throughout the hospital.

“We really want to integrate our volunteers into more patient-facing roles,” she explained. “We’d like them to escort patients, help people find their way from one section of the hospital to another, and do things like filing or pushing a hospitality cart around the facility, offering water, coffee and juice.

“It’s very much based on the old-school ‘candy striper’ model for volunteers,” she said. “We really just want to provide a better experience for everyone.”

Rivera said she is also excited to open the program up to high school children as well.

“Of course, we’re always looking for adult volunteers,” she said, “But we’d really like to see teenagers with an interest or just a heart for helping come out and see what the program is all about.”

Rivera said she is excited for the opportunity to grow the program.

“Volunteering is the perfect way to help give back and to help us as we provide the best care possible to the people in Hinton and our surrounding communities,” she said. “So, we just encourage anyone with any interest in giving back, to reach out and learn more about the ways you can help.”

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Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to contact program coordinator Jessica Meadows-Harbert at 304-466-3191 or jharbert@arh.org.

A background check and completion of volunteer orientation is required.

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