NANA SAYS YOUNG VOLUNTEERS ARE OUR FUTURE

We have many student volunteers ( 15- 21 years) at the hospital. When I was young they were called Candy Stripers because they wore a uniform that looked like a Red and White Candy Cane! Now just wear green. Our High Schools have a community service credit that requires volunteering. Volunteers are a win-win. The young people get a chance to experience a community service and the service has a "workforce" to provide service to our patients. A wheelchair and ride to the door for a patient being discharged; taking cultures to the Lab; delivering flowers or mail to hospitalized patients and any number of small jobs are essential for good patient satisfaction. Other agencies in my region as well as the province benefit from our young volunteers. As employees it is our obligation to be supportive to them. To get into Graduate School, I needed so many community hours to demonstrate I had some experience. For this generation, the requirement has not changed. It does feel good to be assisting with the foundation for the future. How do you use young people in your workplace? Do you find they are a benefit? Do you have a story about one?