Stamford Health is thankful for the many volunteers that make a difference at the hospital every day. Our staff ensures that our volunteers are well-matched and well-recognized for their individual strengths and talents, with a fit for everyone — from teenagers to adults! Today, we're spotlighting Sue Greenberg, who has been volunteering for 50 years now. We hope her story may inspire you to volunteer; you can learn more about our volunteer opportunities here.
One day, the head of volunteers asked if I’d be interested in working at a nursing unit and I said I’d love to. I started working in the emergency room – I spent about 46 years working in the emergency room and I just loved it. And then a couple of years ago, I started volunteering at the Bennett Cancer Center. I work in the infusion center.
But the other thing that I do that I find really amazing is, thanks to the Hope in Motion Walk, we have lunches for all our patients that are free, and every day they come around with a tray full of bags and I go in and I offer the patients lunches, which they are so grateful for. If you're sitting there for a five-hour infusion or a six-hour infusion, it's awfully nice to have somebody bring you lunch.
Thank you for all you do for Stamford Health! Tell us about your volunteer work.
I started as a transporter taking in patients to the radiation therapy department for their treatment and taking them back to their rooms. And then I worked at the front desk, which was fun. But I really liked the patient involvement.One day, the head of volunteers asked if I’d be interested in working at a nursing unit and I said I’d love to. I started working in the emergency room – I spent about 46 years working in the emergency room and I just loved it. And then a couple of years ago, I started volunteering at the Bennett Cancer Center. I work in the infusion center.
What do you typically do on your shifts?
When a patient comes in, I check their armband and I come inside and I tell the nurse who's here. I do rounds, I go to all the rooms and I check and see if someone needs a warm blanket, if they need something to drink, if there's anything I can do for them. And people are very, very open to that. I even have one patient who was a reader and she's always talking to me about books because I'm a reader and we talk. We give each other suggestions for books.But the other thing that I do that I find really amazing is, thanks to the Hope in Motion Walk, we have lunches for all our patients that are free, and every day they come around with a tray full of bags and I go in and I offer the patients lunches, which they are so grateful for. If you're sitting there for a five-hour infusion or a six-hour infusion, it's awfully nice to have somebody bring you lunch.