Health Centre celebrates contributions of more than 500 hospital volunteers

Today, Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) celebrated the countless contributions of our more than 500 dedicated hospital volunteers – including a very special milestone for PRHC volunteer Esther Doré, who was recognized for her 50 years of service.

Inspired by her mother, 83-year-old Esther began her volunteer journey at Peterborough Civic Hospital in 1968. Times were different then, she says, but the core reasons she enjoys volunteering remain the same.

“It’s the giving of yourself and meeting people,” said Esther. “God gave me the gift that I could listen and also chat. My greatest joy is meeting people and spreading the word for volunteerism.”

Wearing many hats over the years, Esther fondly remembers planning hospital dances, organizing skits for clinical staff and taking trips to Toronto to procure items to sell at the hospital’s Gift Shop. She is currently providing pastoral care at the hospital.

Esther embodies the spirit of volunteerism – she is known as funny, kind, compassionate, and the type of person you want to be around, especially when facing adversity.

“Some people don’t have any family,” Esther says. “Just being a good listener is so important to a lot of people. My advice is if you have spare time, it doesn’t matter whether it’s at the hospital or at hospice, just help someone. I’ve held a lot of hands through illnesses here. I’ve been truly blessed.”

“On behalf of the senior leadership team and all of our leaders, healthcare professionals and staff, I want to thank our many volunteers at PRHC,” said Dr. Peter McLaughlin, President & CEO. “I would also like to send out a very special message of congratulations and thanks to Esther Doré for an exceptional 50 years of volunteer service with us. To all of our volunteers, thank you for everything you do for our patients and their families, for this hospital and for our community and region.”

PRHC volunteers work both directly and indirectly with patients and their families, supporting our healthcare professionals and staff to provide exceptional care. Their work includes everything from helping patients and visitors get to where they are going, running the hospital’s Gift Shop, making post-discharge phone calls to patients and delivering mail throughout the building.

For more information about volunteering at PRHC, please visit: http://www.prhc.on.ca/cms/volunteers.

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For more information:
Michelene Ough
Director, Communications
705-743-2121 x. 4259
mough@prhc.on.ca