As part of Volunteer Appreciation Week, we are highlighting a few of the men and women who volunteer their time, energy, and compassion to help our patients and their families in countless ways.
Cyndi Lembo
Location: Elizabeth G. and Jennifer J. Hildebrandt Hospice Care Center
Years of Volunteering: 4
Since 2019, Cyndi has been a volunteer at the inpatient unit at Hildebrandt Hospice Care Center – making Quality Advocate calls and handling several duties in the office.
Described as always mindful of others and highly valued, Cyndi’s compassion is most evident when visiting with patients and supporting their loved ones. Throughout the pandemic, Hildebrandt required greeters to sign in guests and conduct COVID-19 screenings – a position that became challenging to fill. On a number of occasions, Cyndi volunteered to cover shifts before and after her regularly scheduled shifts visiting patients. Despite several offers to pay her for her time and effort, Cyndi graciously declined.
A short time before participating on a Volunteer Panel at New Volunteer Orientation, Cyndi’s mother passed away. Staff expected and understood that Cyndi would not participate given the loss of her mother. However, just a few days later, Cyndi came to the leaders and told them she could not think of a better way to honor her mother and give back to those who made her journey’s end so peaceful than to help with new volunteers.
Dave Mindel
Location: Lipson Cancer Institute
Years of Volunteering: 11
At Lipson Cancer Institute, Dave is the lead volunteer. His primary role is to be a companion to patients and their families by offering support, getting drinks, and doing anything else that can help make their time at Lipson better.
Dave is generous with his time and will fill in to help with administrative tasks for staff at Lipson if they need someone to step in and help.
Bill Messinger
Location: United Memorial Medical Center
Years of Volunteering: 4
For the last four years, Bill has been a volunteer at the Lipson Cancer Institute at United Memorial Medical Center.
Bill “The Hat Man” has a fun and likeable personality, which is often reflected in his attire. His personal experience gives him an air of understanding and relatability that allows him to support patients in a unique way.
Staff and patients alike look forward to seeing Bill when he comes in – especially to see which hat he chooses to wear!
George Higbee
Location: Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic
Years of Volunteering: 5
If you have ever visited Clifton Springs Hospital and noticed how well the grounds are being kept, you can thank George Higbee.
George started volunteering because he enjoys helping people and his community. He lives next to the hospital, and takes pride in seeing the grounds looking well kept. While George is willing to help wherever he is needed, he enjoys working outside most of all.
Members of the facilities staff say George is great to work with; he knows the importance of keeping the hospital safe and accessible. Sometimes when facilities staff come in at 2 am to plow the parking lots and roads, George will already be shoveling the sidewalks out front!
Dave Gill
Location: Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic
Years of Volunteering: 1
When the hospital chaplain at Clifton Springs Hospital mentioned the need for volunteers to help direct patients at the front desk, Dave raised his hand to join.
Born in Clifton Springs, Dave’s family moved away to Iowa before returning in 1948. Dave’s father took a job at Clifton Springs Hospital as the head chemist for the pathologist, while his mother worked as a nurse’s aide in the hospital.
After serving in the Vietnam War, Dave returned to Clifton Springs and has lived there ever since. Since Clifton Springs Hospital has been a major part of his life and the community he has lived in, Dave finds enjoyment and fulfillment in volunteering. In Dave’s words, seeing all the old faces of people he went to school with and being at the front desk brings back good memories of the doctors he grew up living next to the hospital on Broad Street.
Cheryl DeMeyers
Location: Newark-Wayne Community Hospital
Years of Volunteering: 26
In 1997, Cheryl DeMeyers had some extra time and was looking for something worthwhile to do while giving back. She found that and much more at Newark-Wayne Community Hospital.
Today, Cheryl serves as a Board Member and Membership Chair of the Newark-Wayne Community Hospital Auxiliary, having recently stepped down as President. Her many hours of volunteering include time spent on Moore Place, doing patient visitation, playing the piano for memorial services, and even filling linen carts in the basement to learn more about hospital operations.
Cheryl currently operates the Newark-Wayne Community Hospital gift shop and the gift shop in long-term care.
Earl Welker
Location: Newark-Wayne Community Hospital
Years of Volunteering: 19 years
After retiring from teaching in 2002, Earl was looking for something to keep him active. After seeing an ad for Newark-Wayne Community Hospital volunteers in the local paper, Earl started coming in to help.
Earl started sorting and delivering mail throughout the hospital and eventually began greeting our patients and visitors to guide them in the right direction.
Today, Earl continues to volunteer and also serves on the board of the Hospital Auxiliary. He also serves as a community representative for the Eastern Region Quality and Regulatory Oversight Committee.
John Schwartz
Location: Unity Hospital
Years of Volunteering: 8-9
When asked what John likes best about volunteering, his answer was simple: he likes being busy and helping people.
After 45 years working at Wegmans, John retired and joined the volunteer team at Unity Hospital. For the last 8-9 years, John has been supporting Guest Services and Patient Discharge.
“Forty five years at Wegmans taught me that we have to give our best every day and that’s what I do here at Unity,” John said. “The more I do here, the more I free up the nurses and techs to help patients. The more I do, the more I can help move things along.”
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