With more than 170 guests in attendance, appreciation and gratitude were on the menu recently when Northumberland County’s west-end hospital hosted a volunteer luncheon in Cobourg.
Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH) held its annual volunteer appreciation luncheon on May 1 at the Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn & Convention Centre. The event was tied into NHH’s recognition of National Volunteer Week in Canada, which ran from April 27 to May 3.
There was a diverse representation of volunteers from NHH’s board of directors, the NHH Foundation, spiritual care, patient and family advisory council (PFAC), and the NHH Auxiliary, who enjoyed food, presentations, and more.
“A key highlight of the event was the guest speaker, Cheryl Athersych from the Ontario Age-Friendly Communities Outreach Program, who was very well received,” said Jennifer Gillard, vice-president of patient experience, public affairs and strategic partnerships.
“Many attendees noted the speaker’s message as both inspiring and relatable,” she told kawarthaNOW.
“Another highlight was the huge attendance and, through that, the opportunity to see in one room the many faces of generous volunteers who, for many reasons, support the hospital and by extension the community we exist to serve,” Gillard shared. “It was moving and very inspiring. We are so fortunate in Northumberland.”
Gillard served as the event’s master of ceremonies and also shared highlights from the hospital’s inaugural volunteer experience survey, conducted at the end of 2024.
“While NHH has long surveyed staff, physicians, midwives and, of course, patients on the quality of their experience, we had never, until this past year, surveyed volunteers to see why they choose to bring their time and talents to NHH,” explained Gillard in a media release.
Key findings from the volunteer survey, which was recently highlighted by the Ontario Hospital Association, showed that 94 per cent of NHH volunteers “agreed or strongly agreed” that they felt valued for their contributions to NHH.
Additionally, 98 per cent “agreed or strongly agreed” that they would recommend NHH as a place to volunteer, a sentiment reflected in volunteer teams’ positive recruitment efforts over the past year, Gillard noted.
During the event, NHH shared each volunteer team’s unique contributions to the hospital. The biggest group is the NHH Auxiliary.
When combined, inclusive of its two retail operations, NHH Auxiliary volunteers contributed more than 30,000 hours of volunteer service during the past year.
“Auxiliary volunteers are everywhere,” said Gillard. “Their presence contributes to a positive experience for patients and caregivers as well as the hospital team.”
The auxiliary runs a community thrift shop and the hospital’s gift shop, which generate more than $200,000 annually. In addition, they greet people and help them find their way when they walk into the hospital or enter the doors to access NHH’s cancer and supportive care or women’s health services.
These volunteers also support triage and communication to patients and families within the emergency department and support the post-acute care program’s hospital elder life program.
NHH also recognized the NHH Foundation for its contributions and support to the hospital. The foundation currently has more than 75 active volunteers.
Back in September 2024, the NHH Foundation celebrated the successful conclusion of the largest fundraising campaign in Northumberland County’s history. Through the “Exceptional Community, Exceptional Care” campaign, led by campaign chair Hank Vandermeer and a dedicated volunteer cabinet, it raised $26.3 million.
NHH also recognized its volunteer board of directors. The board, and its community committee volunteers, dedicate hundreds of hours of service to the governance of the organization each year, monitoring strategic priorities, quality, and fiscal health.
PFAC also received a special shout-out for the council’s contributions to many operational tables and working groups throughout NHH.
“PFAC plays a critical role in bringing the lived experience of patients and their caregivers into the hospital’s service planning and process improvement,” Gillard noted.
In the last 12 months, they contributed more than 800 hours of volunteer service.
Finally, NHH also acknowledged its student volunteers, volunteers with NHH’s growing network of spiritual care volunteers, and its volunteers with the local St. John Ambulance therapy dog program who visit NHH weekly with their pets.
