[10] | 2025 - Q2
The Benefits of Volunteering
Many Veterans, their families, friends, and supportive community members donate time and effort at Dole VA, from senior citizens to high school students. A rotating crew comprising 190 volunteers worked nearly 20,000 hours at no charge last fiscal year. They provided services such as driving Veterans to appointments, pushing wheelchairs, helping with wayfinding, answering phones, making calls, and greeting visitors. Voluntary Service Specialist Thomas Britton works in Dole VA’s Center for Development and Community Engagement. He said volunteers not only give of themselves through their service, but they also receive a wealth of benefits as well. “These are very patriotic people,” he said. “Volunteers have deep satisfaction in giving back to former soldiers, sailors, and airmen, and they also relish the camaraderie and friendships they find.” Many of the most loyal volunteers are seniors and volunteering gives them a sense of purpose, but Britton said not all of his crew have gray hair. “Our young people really bring a bright and enthusiastic energy to our facility,” he said. “They are so eager to help in any way they can, and their genuine interest in hearing the stories of our Veterans enlivens the patients coming here for health care visits, which can sometimes be stressful or worrisome." Britton said high school volunteers provide much-needed interaction between generations, which often delights the older Veterans. Participants in the CDCE Summer Youth Program can gain experience working in a hospital, garner job references, and develop life lessons worthy of sharing in college application essays.
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