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Sturgeon Hospital volunteer group sending thanks to volunteers

This is National Volunteer Week, a time to recognize the multitudes of volunteers who make life better in many ways throughout the year.
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In October 2019, president Jackie White said Sturgeon Hospital Auxillary Volunteers Association (SHAVA) was celebrating 50 years of serving the hospital through fundraising activities including the giftshop and the famous, late SHAVA bookstore. CHRIS COLBOURNE/St. Albert Gazette

Volunteers are often thought of as unsung heroes. Lately, they've been thought of as more unseen than usual as well.

This is National Volunteer Week, which is always a good chance to recognize volunteers even if you can't thank them in person. Jackie White, president of the Sturgeon Hospital Auxiliary Volunteer Association (SHAVA), wanted to send her physically distant gratitude to the massive corps of generous and compassionate citizens who give their time and energy to making care at the hospital the best it can be.

“Under normal circumstances, most organizations recognize their volunteers in some way. A lot of communities do. Due to circumstances this year, we're not able to do anything like that on a big scale,” she said.

The hospital has been shut down to volunteers since March 13, she said. That day marked a dramatic shift in activities that might not be considered essential services but they certainly make many things better and easier for frontline healthcare workers, support staff and patients.

People are likely most familiar with the SHAVA Gift Shop as the organization’s main centre of activities and its main fundraiser. The group’s efforts have allowed them to make an astounding $3.3 million in donations over its 50-year history. That money goes toward purchasing important hospital equipment. Its market vendors help out significantly on that front as well.

SHAVA volunteers also operate a bottle recycling program that brings in $8,000 each year, plus they recycle styrofoam containers because it’s the right thing to do. On top of that, hospital chaplain Bob Kerr has his own retinue of volunteers who offer immeasurable spiritual care to patients.

“I'm sure at this stressful time for patients and staff, he would really welcome their assistance. I have spoken to a couple of those volunteers who do that and they really miss being able to comfort people and speak with people.”

Other volunteers help prepare paperwork so everything is ready in a folder for when each new patient comes in.

This period of volunteering shutdown has been really tough on the SHAVA volunteers as well, White added.

“Although SHAVA volunteers are not able to be in the hospital, we miss helping out,” she continued, mentioning how hard it is for many of the volunteers, many of whom are also seniors, to be shut in and not be able to get out and be with people.

“We're all just missing all these things that we contribute. I just wanted somehow to be able to let the volunteers know that they are being missed. There's no doubt about it. Enjoy National Volunteer Week and hopefully we get back to doing what we all love to do as soon as possible.”

The Community Information and Volunteer Centre has a wealth of information on volunteering locally and even nationally during the pandemic. That information is available on its website at stalbertcivc.com.


Scott Hayes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

About the Author: Scott Hayes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Ecology and Environment Reporter at the Fitzhugh Newspaper since July 2022 under Local Journalism Initiative funding provided by News Media Canada.
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