Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - North Mississippi - (Page 48)

A SenSe of PurPose “Being active and involved is really beneficial,” says Mary Nowak, who began volunteering with health agencies in her area after her husband passed away in 2002. “Before he got sick we were very active, and I knew that after he was gone I’d never just sit in a chair and do nothing,” Nowak explains. She chose to volunteer with two agencies that had served her husband and her during his long illness. Nowak helps the Visiting Nurse Association assemble patient information packets and does clerical work at a local rehabilitation facility. Nowak points out that even the smallest offer of help is appreciated, and she felt strongly about wanting to give back to the agencies that were there when she needed them. “These people were so friendly and caring to us, and being around them now keeps me in contact with people of all ages,” she says. “You’re interacting with people, you’re not feeling lonesome and you’re benefiting somebody else, so it gives you a sense of purpose.” An Invaluable ImpAct Woody Southerland estimates that in the 10 years he has been volunteering at his local hospital, he has donated about 3,500 hours of his time. He’s currently president of his local hospital’s volunteer group, which puts in an average of 41,000 hours a year. Southerland helps with a variety of tasks, including serving as an ambassador, escorting hospital visitors. “On the days I’m an ambassador, I walk up to four miles,” Southerland says. “I have two artificial heart valves, so this helps keep me active—physically and mentally.” When Southerland has the chance to interact with heart surgery patients, he tells them he’s healthy and able to do just about anything he wants to do. “That’s encouraging to people,” he says. And helping out at the hospital keeps Southerland and his wife, Sandy, who also volunteers there, engaged with the community. “This is a tremendous hospital, and volunteering is a way to give back,” he says. “The free labor volunteers provide to the hospital makes us their single largest contributor, which means we’re really making a difference in our community.” photography by photolibrary The Power of Personal Experience As president and CEO of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, Bill McGinly, Ph.D., is an expert on giving and volunteerism. And as a three-time cancer survivor, he has firsthand experience in the difference volunteers can make to a patient. “When you’re a patient going through something like that, anything unknown is very unsettling,” he explains. “The volunteers who shared their own experiences with cancer provided clarity about what to expect, which gave me a sense of security.” McGinly says the volunteers were honest, because they knew how valuable it was to have lived through the experience themselves. “It’s very emotional and you’re not always thinking straight,” he says. “And sometimes, simply having someone sit with me at the hospital was really helpful—just that presence of having somebody there and knowing they care.” online Just a few hours a month can make a big difference. To learn about volunteer opportunities at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, visit www.nmhs. net/volunteer.php. Volunteer. It’s Good for You 48 Vim & Vigor • SP R I N G 2 011 http://www.nmhs.net/volunteer.php http://www.nmhs.net/volunteer.php

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - North Mississippi

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - North Mississippi
Table of Contents
Opening Thoughts
Pump It Up
Heart of the Matter
Every Minute Counts
A Workout for Every Mood
Don’t Fail Your Heart
If Your Bones Could Talk
Healthy Travels
Over 40 and Fabulous
Do-It-Yourself Health?
Fighting Words
Balancing Act
Giving & Getting
Brighten Up
Welcome Aboard
Catch the Spirit

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - North Mississippi