"When I lost my mother in 2022, I decided that I wanted to give back to my community in her honor. She was a lifelong hairdresser in the Oneonta area. I initially volunteered to go to the inpatient floors and wash hair for our patients. There is no special skill set needed for this type of volunteering. It is a small act of kindness, makes a difference to patients, and helps our hard-working nurses.
This initial plan did develop into more, as things generally do. I have gone to the floors not only to wash hair, but sit and talk with patients, hold the hands of patients who are scared and lonely because they are away from their families while dealing with a health crisis, or to simply take a walk with a patient around the unit."
"This small gift of my time had profound effects on patients, their families, and myself. Volunteering has improved my sense of purpose and helped to improve the mood of the people in the community that I love.”
