New Horizons gift shop volunteers celebrated

Sometimes it’s the little things that count, especially things that make a job easier or a patient visit a little more comfortable. Sometimes, these things are just not in the budget. Thanks to the tireless efforts of a handful of dedicated New Horizons Care Center gift shop volunteers, several departments throughout the hospital will receive much appreciated items that would otherwise be out of reach for budgetary reasons. The team of 10 volunteers raised around $5,000 in proceeds from the gift shop sales this year, which they donated to the hospital foundation. 

The volunteers donate the entire proceeds from gift shop sales to the hospital district every year. In appreciation of their efforts, the volunteers were honored at a special luncheon last week.

“As part of volunteer appreciation week, we recognized our gift shop volunteers with a luncheon,” said hospital foundation director Janet Koritnik.  “We are honored that they returned almost $5,000 to our facility for items to help our staff, patients and residents in several departments.”

Several departments stand to benefit from the donation, and their jobs and patient experience will be a little better because of it. The funds will be used to purchase kitchen items like a new toaster and a couple of new microwave ovens for kitchens located throughout the care center. The care center’s beauty shop will get a new clipper set for grooming male residents. The radiology department will receive a small chair or bench for the new Dexa Scan room. The operating room will get that new prep table they’ve had on their wish list for a while.

The maintenance department will receive a backpack style snow-blower, making winter chores a bit easier. Two new nightstands will be purchased for use in newly remodeled patient rooms, making the rooms a bit cozier for patients. The respiratory therapy/cardiac rehab department will get two sets of new bedding for the sleep lab and waterproof pillow protectors for use with EKGs and Stress Echoes. The hospital’s administrative assistant will be getting a new recorder to help with meeting minutes, and the resident activities department will be receiving supplies for two popular patient pastimes, Bingo and crafting.

Volunteer Kathy Harrison has been helping in the shop once a week for about 20 years. 

“The best part of doing this is that I get to visit with the residents, staff and visitors while I’m here,” she said. “I really look forward to it.”

The volunteers keep the little shop fully stocked with inexpensive, unique gifts, snacks, frozen foods, pop and some necessities like Chapstick, nail files and clippers. They stock favorite items for residents and staff whenever possible.

The gift shop is currently open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Harrison said it would be open more hours if the group had more volunteers. For more information about volunteer opportunities, contact Kirsten Bryson in the human resources department at the hospital.