Washtenaw County Chapter
Volunteering At The Ann Arbor VA Hospital
At one of our late 2003 Chapter meetings, VFP member Larry Maguire volunteered into looking into volunteer opportunities at the local Veterans Administration Hospital. Here is his report…
I had a very good first meeting with Beverly Neleski, the Volunteer Coordinator at the VA Hospital on Fuller Rd. in AA. My take on the Hospital is that the Volunteer setup is a hands-on, non-bureaucratic group of folks just trying to make a difference.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
First, look at the list of jobs below for a match-up that may suite you. Beyond these job areas that need to be filled all the time, you might have some unique talent for which a niche can be found in the overall scheme of the Hospital. Beverly Neleski, the Volunteer Coordinator, basically told me that if you have something that you love doing and/or are very good at, then it's probably something that could enhance the environment of Hospital life and is worth evaluating. Basically, they're just wanting to make life better for the Vets any way they can, and Beverly will work with you to do that. Contact Beverly at 734/761-7995, fax 734 769 7071, e-mail Beverly.Leneski@med.va.gov
At the interview, you'll fill out a form in which you can jot down what you're good at. One slot will ask if you have any affiliation (I put down VFP #93). Beverly will talk with you and try to connect you with the right niche. She's an easy engaging person. She'll give you some paper work on do's and don'ts for volunteers and a confidentiality statement to sign. And there is some other administrative stuff that I haven't done yet.
Jobs That Are Available…
ASSIST VETERANS FROM YOUR BASIC LIVING SKILLS BY:
Writing letters
Visiting patients
Staffing information desks
Performing clerical tasks
Performing messenger duties
Assisting with telephone calls
Distributing personal comfort items
Assisting on medical units with non-medical tasks
Escorting patients to appointments throughout the medical center
Providing transportation via shuttle cart throughout the medical center
ASSIST VETERANS BY DOING WORK IN SPECIALIZED SKILLS IN:
Accounting
Audiology
Canteen
Chaplain
Dental
Dietetics
Laboratory
Library
Mail Room
Nursing
Occupational Therapy
Pharmacy
Physical Therapy
Recreation Therapy
Research
Social Work