More Volunteers Needed at CDH

NORTHAMPTON — As Cooley Dickinson Hospital prepares to unveil 116,000 square feet of new space this month, Volunteer Services Director Robin Kline anticipates the need for more volunteers at the hospital.

“We need at least 30 new volunteers to help keep our operations running smoothly,” Kline said, noting that in 2006, 294 volunteers contributed more than 29,000 hours by staffing the coffee and gift shops, transporting mail to hospital departments, and greeting visitors.

“Our volunteers are truly the backbone of this organization. They each bring important skills to their various assignments,” she added. “I invite area residents to use their skills to create a community as they would like to see it.”

With the opening of the new building, Kline is interviewing for the following positions:

• Information Desk Greeter: Creates a warm, welcoming environment by escorting visitors to appointments and giving directions. Requirements include being active and the ability to push a wheelchair, and being comfortable with basic computer tasks.
• Unit Greeter: Provides comfort and reassurance. Works on the inpatient unit of the new CDH patient building. Greets visitors, answers phones, directs calls, and provides non-clinical support to visitors.
• Delivery person: Delivers mail throughout the hospital. This is a great way to stay active; it involves a lot of walking.

Kline said she is also recruiting to fill positions in the Gift Shop, Coffee Shop, Central Sterile Supply, Linen Department, and Transportation.

The new patient building and Kittredge Surgery Center will open in April. A public open house is planned for Wednesday, April 11 at 10 a.m.

Call Kline at (413) 582-2251 for more information on volunteering, or visitwww.cooley-dickinson.org and click on the Volunteer Application quick link. To speak with a newly recruited volunteer, call the PR office at (413) 582-2421.