Giving of her time
By DEBORAH ALLARD-BERNARDI
Herald News Staff Reporter
November 6, 2003 (reprinted with permission)
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Ernestine Bell has volunteered more than 22,000 hours at Charlton Memorial Hospital since the 1980s.
Photo by Dave Souza/Herald News | |
Ernestine Bell, an 85-year-old Charlton Memorial Hospital admissions volunteer, has been working since the early 1980s purely to help others, and has racked up 22,000 hours doing so.
But just because Bell hasn't ever earned a paycheck from Charlton doesn't mean she hasn't found other rewards.
"I like people," said Bell, adding that she plans to continue her duties "until they have to carry me out."
Wearing a pink smock and a smile, Bell, of Swansea, is the first person patients come in contact with on their way to pre-surgery testing or other diagnostic tests. She feels it's her duty to dole out a bit of cheer to the fearful and unsure.
"I might find a few words to ease them," said Bell. "I know they're scared."
Bell was recently honored by Southcoast Hospitals Group for the most hours worked as a volunteer at its three hospitals, Charlton, St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.
Her time spent checking in patients and copying their insurance cards at the hospital over the last two decades is the equivalent of working 24 hours a day for two-and-a-half-years.
It would take the average 40-hour-a-week worker more than 10 years to work 22,000 hours -- and at that point most would have incurred several weeks paid vacation and thousands of dollars in retirement funding.
"She's a blessing to us," said Natalie Gomes, a patient access coordinator in the same department. "We'd be lost without her."
Bell started working for Charlton at the request of her husband, Ernest Bell, the former Swansea chief of police who retired in 1977. Ernest Bell died two years ago Wednesday.
After his retirement, he began his volunteerism at Charlton and completed 19,000 hours of service. Bell said her husband would have surpassed her 22,000 hours had he still been living.
Once her husband got her involved, Bell started volunteering in the emergency room, then moved to the front desk where she delivered magazines and flowers to patients. She has been in her current role in the admissions department for the past eight years.
"I like the girls here," said Bell. "They're very nice to me."
Without Bell, patients -- most of which come in with a pounding heart and shaking hands prior to surgery -- would also be missing out. Bell's co-workers say she has a way with the patients, a way of calming them down.
"She's a very, very special volunteer," said Marion Gagnon, a patient access representative. "She gives so much of herself. We love her."
Bell, who suffers from Bell's Palsy and has had broken bones several times due to osteoporosis, won't let the ailments stop her. Although her eyesight is failing as a result of Bell's palsy, she arms herself with a magnifying glass and continues on.
"We can't do without her," said Gagnon. "We hope she can continue on with us."
Gagnon and Bell have known each other for many years. In their younger years, they worked together at the former Nancy Dress company on Pleasant Street.
Another co-worker, Elizabeth Rose, a patient access representative, said Bell is able to "take over" the department and is sometimes "too fast." The women there often have to chase after Bell for records before they are promptly filed.
Dr. Ronald Goodspeed, the president of Southcoast Hospitals Group, said Bell and other volunteers saved the hospitals $1.4 million last year, donating a total of 86,000 hours.
"In an age of stress and turmoil, (they) help bring stability to our hospitals," said Goodspeed.
Bell and about other 700 volunteers were honored at Southcoast Hospitals' annual award's luncheon at the Venus de Milo recently.
Southcoast Hospitals is always recruiting for new volunteers. For more information, call John Teixeira at 508-679-7038.
Deborah Allard-Bernardi may be reached at dbernardi@heraldnews.com.
Copyright © The Herald NewsÊ2003. Reprinted with permission.
More Information about Volunteering at Southcoast
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Agatha St. Amour
Director of Volunteers
Center for Philanthropy & Volunteers
Phone: 508-961-5353
Toll-free: 800-925-9450
E-mail: sainta@southcoast.org
