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Volunteering at St. Michael’s

Volunteer stories

Baby cuddling
Julia Gluck volunteers her time as a cuddler at St. Michael's Hospital Need a snuggle? Vulnerable infants bond with volunteer cuddlers
Oct. 10, 2016 - CBC News
'The power of human touch is extraordinary,' says Toronto pediatrician of hospital's baby-cuddling program.
Volunteer Bill Hedley sits bedside with a patient Can cuddling heal babies?
Dec. 29, 2015 - YouTube
Toronto's St. Michael's Hospital is testing whether hugs can help heal babies born with a drug addiction.
 
Elder visiting
Volunteer Bill Hedley sits bedside with a patient New volunteer program focuses on seniors
June 6, 2012 - St. Michael's Hospital
When volunteer Bill Hedley finishes his shift, he leaves knowing that he has made a real difference in the lives of St. Michael’s patients.
 
Emergency Department
Volunteer Tanya Aziz assists a patient in the Emergency Department Volunteers help connect the dots in the Emergency Department
Sept. 4, 2015 - St. Michael's Hospital
Each week, Tanya Aziz volunteers as an Emergency Department escort for four busy hours. She greets incoming patients, guides them to the registration desk... and answers lots and lots of questions.
 
Palliative Care
Beberly Steele, left, and her friend Blossom Phillips talk to St. Michael's volunteer Ria Kinghorn while visiting Ms. Phillips’s mother who is in palliative care. Where this family of volunteers help, death is a constant visitor
Feb. 15, 2013 - The Globe and Mail
They’re cheery, outgoing and they poke fun at each other as often as they can. They are not a family in a traditional sense, but a family of volunteers, brought closer by the nature of their work.
 
Co-op Student Program
Two students stand in front of the poster boards for their project St. Michael’s Hospital hosted its annual co-op fair
2014 - Toronto Catholic District School Board
Co-op students placed at St. Mike’s Hospital through Volunteer Services participate in a semester long experiential learning program earning high school credits.
High school co-op students, (l to r) Jessica Cordeiro Isidoro, Michaela Finn, and Ruby Jane DeVera, take part in a tour of the hospital’s Allan Family Waters Simulation Centre Survey shows that high school teachers are impressed with St. Michael’s co-op program
Dec. 2, 2014 - St. Michael's Hospital
Volunteer Services recently completed a satisfaction survey of high school teachers who have sent their co-op students to St. Michael’s.
 
Pre-natal tours
Inez McKenzie, volunteer at St. Michael’s Hospital. Q&A with Inez McKenzie
April 17, 2015 - St. Michael's Hospital
Inez McKenzie worked as a registered nurse on the Labour and Delivery Unit for 28 years before returning as a volunteer 16 years ago. She has led more than 700 pre-natal tours.
 
Info desks
John Francis Carsone is one of the volunteers running the new information desk at the health centre located on Queen St. E. New information desk saves time and energy
March 4, 2015 - St. Michael's Hospital
A new information desk in the lobby of 61 Queen St. E. has made it easier for patients to visit the building.
 
Communion
Volunteer Eucharistic minister Christina Santos delivers Holy Communion to Mario Corpos. The holy gift volunteers deliver to patients
Dec. 15, 2014 - St. Michael's Hospital
“Being able to give Holy Communion makes you realize how lucky you are to have the health and motivation to be in this line of work,” said Marianna Korman.
 
Creative Works Studio
The documentary screens at 4 p.m., June 20 at the Carlton Cinema, part of the Female Eye Film Festival. What’s art got to do with it?
June 18, 2013 - St. Michael's Hospital
When Isabel Fryszberg, Janet Parsons and Jennifer Laiwint, gathered their documentary participants on the street for the above photo, it caused a bit of a stir.
 
Patient menus
David Johnston picks out an apple in St. Michael’s Patient Food Services area. Volunteer-led initiative helps patients select their daily meals
Oct. 22, 2014 - St. Michael's Hospital
St. Michael’s patients who may be accustomed to a diet of meat and potatoes or lentils and rice are sometimes unfamiliar with the menu choices offered during their hospital stay.
 
Long service awards
Dan Har Li makes her rounds on the Medical Daycare Unit. Titanium Club – membership has its privileges
Sept. 18, 2014 - St. Michael's Hospital
Organizations from hotel chains to Starbucks have a gold or platinum level membership. When volunteers at St. Michael’s reach 2,500 hours of service, they become members of the Titanium Club.
 
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