Volunteer Services - Eureka
St. Joseph Hospital Eureka has a very dynamic volunteer program comprised
of many individuals of all ages. Our dedicated volunteers serve in several
areas of the hospital and in the community as well.
Depending on individual interests, some of our volunteers work directly
with patients while others provide invaluable assistance in hospital support
areas or in one of our physician practices or community collaborative
programs. Each year the volunteers raise thousands of dollars through
various fundraising activities which include bake sales, raffles, rummage
sales, book sales, and jewelry sales, to name just a few! All proceeds
benefit patient care and scholarships for students seeking future careers
in health care.
How to Join Our Volunteer Team
We do request a minimum commitment of one year of service annually. Call
707-445-8121 ext. 7530 for more details. Click
here for a volunteer application.
Information Desk
Situated in the hospital lobby, these volunteers provide general information
and directions to all hospital visitors.
Floor Duty
These volunteers provide Patient Care by supporting the Nursing and Nutrition
Services staffs in the following ways: helping patients complete menus,
providing patients with nourishments, delivering patient flowers, cards,
etc., delivering doctors' orders, lab specimens, pharmacy requests
and charts to departments as needed, processing mailings, and completing
special projects.
Concierge
These volunteers keep all communication lines open between the surgical
liaison, family members and information desk; greet family members as
they arrive in the waiting room and escort family members to the consultation room.
Gift Shop
These volunteers are responsible for the retail sales of this shop. They
handle payment transactions, wrap gifts, and prepare window displays.
Departmental support throughout the hospital
Volunteers provide non-clinical, administrative support to Radiology, Dietary,
Administration, Medical Records, Patient Billing, Purchasing, and the
Rio Dell Community Resource Center. Additionally, volunteers knit baby
caps for each newborn and sew abdominal pillows for surgery patients.
Spiritual Health Services Volunteer Chaplains
These volunteers provide non-denominational support to patients as requested.
After completing an in-depth eight week course that prepares them for
the position of Chaplain, they select a two hour block of time one day
a week to visit with patients. These volunteers are trained to support
patients and families through the grief process and to provide active
listening, emotional, and spiritual support.
Community programs our volunteers support include
- Ongoing fund raising events to improve patient care services at St. Joseph
Hospital Eureka
Vial of Life Community Program
A volunteer committee ensures that vials are placed throughout the community
in convenient locations and that they remain adequately stocked. These
vials include a Health Information form which could save valuable time
for paramedics trying to determine a patient's prior medical history
(including allergies and medications).
Evergreen Lodge
The Evergreen Lodge provides "a home away from home" for cancer
patients from Santa Rosa, California to Medford, Oregon, and remains the
only facility of this type on the North Coast. Offering more than just
a place for these patients to stay, the volunteers reach out to provide
small comforts that help in keeping their spirits up.
Click Here for more information.
Mended Hearts
Affiliated with the American Heart Association, Mended Hearts is a national
nonprofit organization, which started in 1951. The organization provides
peer support and education to patients and their families before and after
heart surgery. Mended Hearts Chapter 46 in Humboldt County was constituted
in November 1996 under the auspices of St. Joseph Hospital and the local
Heart Association. The organization provides an accredited visitation
program. Today there are 19 members in the local chapter. The chapter
meets monthly on the second Wednesday of every month, from 7 p.m. to 8
p.m. at St. Joseph Hospital. Anyone may attend the meetings. Often there
will be guest speakers talking about various aspects of heart disease,
healthy eating habits, benefits of exercise and stress reduction techniques.
Shuttle Service
Provide patients with transportation to and from the hospital and Evergreen
Lodge. They also provide transportation for all the employees and visitors
from the parking lot to the hospital as well as between campuses.
Baby Hats
Over 50 hats are crocheted or knitted each month for all the newborns at
St. Joseph Hospital.
Heart Pillows and Surgery Pillows
Soft, cushy pillows are handmade monthly for all Heart and Surgery patients
to help comfort them while in the hospital and while recovering at home.
Recycling
One of the many fund-raising activities that the volunteers manage at both
campuses while also helping to maintain the beauty of our environment.
Community Volunteer Opportunities and Partnerships
Provide assistance to the Community Resource Center Coordinators by performing
general office duties or other projects as directed. These individuals
play an important role in serving our community's most needy residents
including the homeless.
Community Resource Centers in Rio Dell, Blue Lake, Eureka, Loleta &
Willow Creek